JPH0524925Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] (a) Field of Industrial Application This invention relates to a toner agitation device for a copying machine, and particularly to a toner agitation device for a copying machine that can prevent toner from shifting when agitating the toner in a toner hopper.

(b) Prior art As toner stirring means in the toner hopper, a rotating stirring blade is used, and a sliding plate is provided so as to be movable along the inner wall surface of the toner hopper. A structure that swings or vibrates in the direction has been proposed. This configuration is especially effective in preventing toner from adhering to the inner wall surface of the toner hopper. (Refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 146155/1983).

(c) Problems to be solved by the invention However, specifically, the vibration of the sliding plate mentioned above is caused by:
It is not just a smooth reciprocating motion, but the cam contact part is depressed by the cam, and therefore,
Vibration force (shock) is primarily applied in only one direction. That is, although the toner in the toner hopper can be prevented from adhering to the inner wall of the toner hopper due to its force, the toner tends to collect in one direction, which often leads to copying defects.

(d) Means for solving the problem and its operation This invention includes a toner hopper, a toner replenishing roller located at the lower opening thereof, and a drive shaft thereof,
A pair of sliding plates respectively disposed along the opposing inner walls of the toner hopper, vertical horizontal plates at both ends that integrally connect these sliding plates in the horizontal direction, and a plurality of intermediate horizontal plates disposed between these vertical horizontal plates. A vertical horizontal plate, a support shaft extending from the vertical horizontal plate at both ends to both sides and supported by the toner hopper, and a support shaft provided on the drive shaft to support the vertical horizontal plate and the sliding plate so as to be movable in the vertical direction. and a contact rod that extends from one of the corresponding support shafts, contacts the cam, and transmits vertical vibrations to the corresponding support shaft as the drive shaft rotates. This is a toner stirring device.

That is, in this invention, a pair of sliding plates are installed along the opposing inner walls of the toner hopper so as to receive vibrations in the vertical direction, and these sliding plates are integrally connected by a plurality of vertical horizontal plates. Even if the vibration force (shock) applied to the plate tries to shift the toner in one direction, the vertical horizontal plate can force it to return to its original position, thereby preventing the toner from shifting. This means that copy defects can be prevented.

In this invention, the vertical horizontal plates connecting the pair of sliding plates are vertical horizontal plates at both ends and a plurality of intermediate vertical horizontal plates arranged between these vertical horizontal plates. 3 to 7 thin plates of a size (area) that does not hinder movement are placed at approximately equal intervals.
5 sheets are used, preferably 5 sheets as in the example.

(e) Examples This invention will be described in detail based on examples shown in the figures below. Note that this invention is not limited to this.

First, in FIGS. 1 to 3, a toner stirring device 1 of a copying machine includes a toner hopper 2, a toner replenishing roller 3 installed at its lower opening, a sponge roller and its drive shaft 4, an opposing inner wall 5 of the toner hopper 2, A pair of sliding plates 7, 8 respectively arranged along the vertical axis 6, a plurality of vertical horizontal plates 9, 10, 11 that integrally connect these sliding plates in the horizontal direction, and these vertical horizontal plates and sliding plates. vertical horizontal plates 9 at both ends,
Support shafts 14 and 1 extend outward from 11 and are locked to side walls 12 and 13 of the toner hopper, respectively.
5, and a cam 16 provided coaxially with the drive shaft.
, a contact rod 17 fixed to one support shaft 14 and in contact with the cam, and a spring coil 18 wrapped around the support shaft 14 between the horizontal wall 12 and the vertical horizontal plate 9 and urged to expand. Become. Thus, the sliding plates 7, 8 and the vertical horizontal plates 9, 10, 11
, the support shafts 14 and 15, and the contact rod 17 are integrally coupled, and these integral structures are supported so as to be movable left and right relative to the side walls 12 and 13 of the toner hopper. Also, between the vertical horizontal plates 9 and 11 at both ends,
A plurality of intermediate vertical horizontal plates 10... are arranged.

In addition, 19 is a ring passed through the support shaft 14, and 2
0 is a pin for fixing the support shaft 14 to the vertical horizontal plate 9; 21 is a notch through which the support shaft passes when locking the support shaft 14 to the vertical horizontal plate 9; 22 is a pin for fixing the support shaft 14 to the vertical horizontal plate 9; This is a recess for hanging. 23
is a notch that supports the support shaft 15 so as to be movable in the vertical direction.

Next, the operation of the toner stirring device 1 having the above configuration will be explained.

First, when the toner replenishing roller 3 receives rotational power from the drive shaft 4 and rotates, the cam 16 also rotates, and the rotation of the cam causes the support shaft to move through the contact rod 17 that contacts the cam. 14 and sliding plates 7 and 8 vibrate in the left-right direction (vertical direction) to agitate the toner in the toner hopper 2. In particular, it is possible to prevent toner from adhering to the opposing inclined surface of the toner hopper 2.

Furthermore, the cam 16 has a contact surface that is connected to the contact rod 17.
gradually moves to the left, then suddenly drops to the right, and this process is repeated. Therefore, the vibration shock applied to the toner is applied from the left to the right, moving the toner to the left and then trying to push it to the right. However, since the sliding plates 7 and 8 are provided with a plurality of intermediate vertical horizontal plates 10 in addition to the vertical horizontal plates 9 and 11 at both ends, the toner that is about to migrate to the right, especially the intermediate toner, is is forcibly returned to its original position by the vertical horizontal plate 10...
This prevents the toner from shifting between the vertical horizontal plates 9 and 11 at both ends, thereby preventing the occurrence of copy defects.

That is, the toner is prevented from staying, adhering, or solidifying in the toner hopper 2 mainly by the functions of the vertical horizontal plates 9, 10, and 11 described above, and the toner is prevented from staying, adhering, or solidifying in the toner hopper 2, and the toner is transferred to the lower developer container 24 by the toner replenishing roller 3. The toner is uniformly fed across the entire width in the vertical direction, then passed through the stirring roller 25 and the pumping roller 26, magnetically held by the magnetic roller 27, and further supplied to the photosensitive drum 28, so that the copying due to the uneven supply of toner is carried out. Defects can be prevented.

(f) Effects of the invention This invention can prevent the toner from being unevenly distributed, thereby preventing the occurrence of copying defects.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an explanatory plan view showing one embodiment of this invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory side view thereof, FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the main part thereof, and FIG. 4 is an explanatory view of the overall configuration. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Toner stirring device of a copying machine, 2... Toner hopper, 3... Toner supply roller, 4... Drive shaft, 5, 6... Opposing inner wall, 7, 8... Sliding plate,
9, 10, 11... Vertical horizontal plate, 14, 15... Support shaft, 16... Cam, 17... Contact rod.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A toner hopper, a toner replenishment roller and its drive shaft located at a lower opening thereof, a pair of sliding plates respectively disposed along opposing inner walls of the toner hopper, and these sliding plates are integrally connected in the lateral direction. Vertical horizontal plates at both ends, a plurality of intermediate vertical horizontal plates disposed between these vertical horizontal plates, and vertical horizontal plates at both ends for vertically movably supporting these vertical horizontal plates and sliding plates. a support shaft that extends from the support shaft to both sides and is supported by the toner hopper; a cam provided on the drive shaft; A toner stirring device for a copying machine comprising a contact rod that transmits vertical vibration to a corresponding support shaft.