JPH04336565A - Developer container and developer supplying device using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the dispersion and leak of the developer in the supply of the developer and prevent the contamination by the developer. CONSTITUTION:As for a developer container 3, an opened port part is sealed by a sheet 5, and the turned-back part of the sheet 5 is extended, passing through a hole 42 on a cover member 4, and a sheet exfoliating handle 6 is fixed at the edge part. The handle 6 is installed so as to be demountable on the container body 3a. While, the opened port part of a developer receiving container 1 is covered with a cover member 2, and after the developer container 3 is installed in the developer receiving container 1, the cover member 2 is opened, and then the handle 6 is demounted from the container body 3a. Then, also the cover member 4 is shifted by the sheet exfoliating action by the handle 6, and the opened port part of the developer container 3 is opened. Accordingly, the supply of the developer from the developer container to the developer receiving container is enabled.

Description

[Detailed description of the invention]

0001

[Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a developer container for replenishing developer to a developing device of an image forming apparatus or a replenishing developer receiving hopper provided in connection with the developing device, and a developer container for replenishing the developer. The present invention relates to a developer replenishment device using a developer container.

0002

2. Description of the Related Art Since the developer used in the developing device of an image forming apparatus is consumed as the image forming process progresses, it is necessary to replenish the developer in a timely manner. This is done by transferring the developer from the container to the developer receiving hopper on the image forming apparatus side. Since the developer is ultra-fine particles with high fluidity, it is easily scattered, and the developer may be scattered while transferring the developer from the developer container to the developer receiving hopper or immediately after removing the developer container from the developer receiving hopper. This scattered developer often contaminates the surrounding area.

[0003] Therefore, a developing method has been developed in which a slide-type lid is attached to each of the developer receiving hopper and the developer container, and one lid follows the other lid, so that the developer is transferred in a sealed environment. The drug replenishment device was built in 1987.
It is proposed by No. 38673.

0004

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, since the conventional developer supply device uses a sliding lid, a sealing material is required between the lid and the container.
Even with this sealing material, complete sealing cannot be expected, and there is a problem in that the developer flows out.

[0005] As mentioned above, the developer is easily scattered, so it may adhere to the hands or clothes of the replenishment worker and contaminate other objects, or the floor around the image forming apparatus may become dirty. . Furthermore, if the developer unnecessarily intrudes into the interior of the image forming apparatus, the scattering of the developer will have a significant effect, such as deteriorating the quality of the formed image.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and its purpose is to prevent developer from leaking or scattering during developer replenishment, and to prevent the developer from contaminating workers and the surrounding area. An object of the present invention is to provide a developer container and a developer replenishment device using the developer container.

[0007]

[Means for Solving the Problems] That is, the developer replenishing device of the present invention includes a container main body containing developer and having a developer replenishing opening formed therein, a position covering the opening, and a container main body in which a developer replenishing opening is formed. A lid member movable between an opening position and a sheet member provided between the opening and the lid member,
a sheet member that is releasably fixed to the container body to seal the opening and is folded back while the unfixed portion is engaged with the inside of the lid member; and an end portion of the folded sheet member. a developer container having a sheet member peeling handle fixed to the container body and removably attached to the container body; an attachment part to which the developer container is detachably attached; and a developer container formed in the attachment part. , a developer receiving opening corresponding to the developer replenishing opening of the developer container, and a lid movable between a position covering the developer receiving opening and a position opening the developer receiving opening. and engagement of the lid member with the developer container such that the sheet member peeling handle is removed from the container body in response to an opening operation of the lid member covering the developer receiving opening. after opening the lid member covering the developer receiving opening, the lid member of the developer container is removed from the sheet member by peeling off the sheet member using the removed sheet member peeling handle. The invention is characterized in that the developer replenishment opening is opened by moving together with the developer replenishment opening, and the developer can be replenished from the developer container.

[0008]

Embodiments Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be explained based on the drawings.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 1 denotes a developer receiving container such as a hopper installed on the side of the image forming apparatus;
The upper developer receiving opening is covered with a sliding lid 2. Further, a guide 1a is formed at the upper part of the developer receiving container 1. Note that a slit 21 is formed on the top surface of the opening/closing lid 2.

On the other hand, numeral 3 is a developer container according to the present invention, in which an appropriate amount of replenishment developer is accommodated in the container body 3a, and the developer replenishment opening can be opened and closed in a sliding manner. It is covered with a lid 4. The opening/closing lid 4 has a protrusion 41 protruding from its tip so as to be caught on the opening/closing lid 2, and the opening/closing lid 4 forms a frame with openings at both ends in the sliding direction. ing.

Further, a film-like sheet 5 is attached to the periphery of the opening located on the lower surface of the container body 3 so that it can be peeled off and is fixed by heat welding or the like with sufficient strength to prevent leakage of the developer. has been done. The total length of the sheet 5 is set to be more than twice the length of one side of the opening of the container body 3a in the direction in which the sheet 5 is torn off, and the sheet 5 is fixed to the opening of the container body 3a. After being folded back, the remaining portion of the sheet 5 is passed through the hole 42 inside the opening/closing lid 4 as shown in the figure, and the end of the sheet 5 is held in the sheet peeling handle 6 so that it does not come out of the container body 3a. It is fixed at position 61 with such strength that it cannot be easily peeled off. The length of the sheet 5 from the time it comes out of the interior 42 of the opening/closing lid 4 until it is fixed to the sheet peeling handle 6 is the length when the sheet peeling handle 6 is pulled out from the container body 3a by the opening/closing lid 2. , is set to such an extent that the operator can grab and pull it, and when the sheet peeling handle 6 is inside the container main body 3a, the excess portion of the sheet 5 comes out of the developer container 3. It is stored in a folded state between the opening/closing lid 4 and the sheet peeling handle 6 to prevent the sheet from being removed. Note that the sheet peeling handle 6 can be pulled out by the opening/closing lid 2, and is attached to the container body 3a with such strength that it cannot be easily detached from the developer container 3 by itself, for example, by means of a patch. Fixed. Further, a protrusion 62 is provided on the sheet peeling handle 6 so as to engage with the terminal end 23 of the slit 21 of the opening/closing lid 2 and to be pulled out from the container body 3a.

By the way, the opening of the developer container 3 and the opening of the developer receiving container 1 are arranged so that K1 is larger than K2 and W1 is larger than W2, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, respectively. That is, the opening on the side of the developer receiving container 1 should be configured to be as large as possible than the opening on the side of the developer replenishing container 3. When transferring the developer, the container body 3a and the opening/closing lid 4 of the developer receiving container are ,2
This is desirable in order to prevent the guide rails used for use from being contaminated by developer particles.

[0013] The surface 31 of the container body 3a to which the sheet 5 is fixed has a step with respect to the sliding surface 32 of the opening/closing lid 4 to the extent that it does not press the sheet in order to make the movement of the sheet 5 smooth. is desirable.

Next, the developer replenishment operation according to this embodiment will be explained using FIGS. 3(a) to 3(e).

When replenishing the developer into the developer receiving container 1, the developer container 3 is first mounted at a predetermined position in the developer receiving container 1, as shown in FIG. 3(a). Then, when the opening/closing lid 2 is pulled out in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. The sheet peeling handle 6 engages with the portion 62 and begins to be pulled out from the container body 3a, and when the opening/closing lid 2 is fully opened,
As shown in (b), the sheet peeling handle 6 is pulled out to a position where the operator can grasp and pull it.

Next, from this state, when holding the sheet peeling handle 6 and pulling the sheet 5 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3(b), the portion of the sheet 5 fixed to the opening of the container body 3a The sheet 5 is sequentially peeled off from the folded side, and as shown in FIG. 3(c), the folded position of the sheet 5 moves in the pull-out direction, and the opening/closing lid 4 moves in the opening direction. As a result, the opening of the developer container 3 is gradually opened.
The developer contained in the container body 3a is replenished into the developer receiving container 1.

Then, as shown in FIG. 3(d), the opening of the developer container 3 is fully opened and all the developer has fallen into the developer receiving container 1, that is, the sheet 5 is pulled out. Even in the cut state, the surface 5a of the sheet 5 to which the developer is attached is within the hole 42 inside the opening/closing lid 4.
The operator does not touch the developer attached to the sheet 5, and the operator's hands, clothes, and surroundings are not contaminated by the developer. Furthermore, this configuration eliminates the need for a cleaning pad for scraping off the developer adhering to the sheet 5, making it possible to downsize and reduce the cost of the developer replenishing device. Further, since the lid 2 is fully open in advance, the developer falling from the developer container 3 will not contaminate the top surface of the top end of the lid 2.

After replenishing the developer as described above, when the opening/closing lid 2 is pushed and closed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. , the opening/closing lid 4 is pushed closed, and the opening/closing lid 4 is closed while pulling in the sheet 5 and the sheet peeling handle 6 that have been pulled out of the container body 3a. At this time, even if the developer in the developer container 3 is uneven and forms a mountain in the developer receiving container as shown in FIG. 3(d),
Since the opening/closing lids 2, 4 are engaged at the tips so that the lid 4 covers the lid 2, the developer does not enter the gap between the opening/closing lids 2, 4, and the mountain-like accumulation of developer is smoothed out. While opening and closing the lid 2,
4 is closed. When both the opening/closing lids 2 and 4 are completely closed, the sheet 5 and the sheet peeling handle 6 are removed as shown in FIG.
As shown in (e), the sheet peeling handle 6 comes out from the container body 3a. Thereafter, the developer replenishment work is completed by removing the developer container 3 from the developer receiving container 1.

[0019]

As explained above, according to the present invention, it is possible to reliably replenish developer, prevent leakage and scattering of developer during developer replenishment, and prevent operator's hands from using developer. This has the effect of preventing contamination of clothes, clothing, and the surrounding area.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an embodiment of a developer replenishing device of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram illustrating the developer replenishment operation; (a)
, (b), (c), (d), and (e) respectively show longitudinal sectional views of the developer replenishing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Developer receiving container 2, 4 Opening/closing lid 3 Developer container 3a Developer container body 5 Sheet 6 Handle for peeling off the sheet

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A container body containing developer and having a developer replenishment opening formed therein; a lid member movable between a position covering the opening and a position opening the opening; A sheet member provided between the opening and the lid member, which is removably fixed to the container body in order to seal the opening, and the unfixed portion is placed inside the lid member. A developing device comprising: a sheet member that is folded back while being engaged; and a handle for peeling off the sheet member that is fixed to an end of the folded sheet member and removably attached to the container body. drug container. 2. A container body containing developer and having a developer replenishment opening formed therein; a lid member movable between a position covering the opening and a position opening the opening; A sheet member provided between the opening and the lid member, which is removably fixed to the container body in order to seal the opening, and the unfixed portion is placed inside the lid member. a developer container having a sheet member which is folded back while being engaged; and a handle for peeling off the sheet member which is fixed to an end of the folded sheet member and removably attached to the container body; a mounting portion to which a developer container is detachably mounted; a developer receiving opening formed in the mounting portion and corresponding to a developer replenishment opening of the developer container; and a developer receiving opening that covers the developer receiving opening. a lid member movable between a position for opening the developer receiving opening and a position for opening the developer receiving opening; and a handle for peeling off the sheet member from the container body in response to an opening operation of the lid member covering the developer receiving opening. an engaging portion of the lid member that engages with the developer container so as to be removed, and for peeling off the sheet member that is removed after opening the lid member that covers the developer receiving opening. By peeling off the sheet member using the handle, the lid member of the developer container moves together with the sheet member to open the developer replenishment opening, making it possible to replenish the developer from the developer container. Characteristic developer replenishment device. 3. In accordance with the closing operation of the lid member that covers the developer receiving opening, the lid member of the developer container also moves together, and the lid member covers the developer replenishment opening of the developer container. The developer replenishing device according to claim 2, wherein the developer replenishing device is returned to its original position. 4. After the sheet member of the developer container is peeled off from the container body, the portion of the sheet member that covered the developer replenishment opening and faced the developer is removed from the lid member of the developer container. 4. The developer replenishing device according to claim 2, wherein the developer replenishing device is located inside the developer replenishing device.