JPH0535410Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to an improvement in a developer supply container used for supplying developer to a developing device of an electrostatic copying machine.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, when replenishing a developer, for example, toner in a two-component developer, the developer replenishment container A is brought close to the developer replenishment port C of the developing device as shown in FIG. Toner is replenished so as to face the opening C, or by an adapter having an elongated cylindrical opening facing the outlet B. Furthermore, it has been proposed to replenish toner using an adapter whose diameter is asymptotically adjusted like a beer bottle (Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 55-155254).

[The problem that the idea attempts to solve]

However, when replenishing toner with the conventional developer replenishment container A, the main body A is moved back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the developer replenishment port C while being swung while the container A is supported in the air. Therefore, when a large amount of toner is stored in the container A, the operator has to support the weight only with his/her hands while replenishing the toner, making it difficult to replenish the toner uniformly. In particular, considering the relatively narrow space inside the electrostatic copying machine, it is unsuitable for replenishment operations and requires a certain level of skill.

Further, the attachable adapter also has an outlet portion B.
Since no special measures have been taken to replenish the toner, it is difficult to replenish the toner uniformly, as in the case described above, the toner must be replenished while supporting the container A only by hand. Therefore, it has been difficult to uniformly replenish the entire developing device.

On the other hand, if toner is replenished by bringing an appropriate part of the container A into contact with the edge of the developer replenishing port C, the weight burden of the container A can be reduced. However, in the case of mere contact, the positional relationship between the outlet B and the replenishment port C is somewhat more stable than in the past, but toner particles due to the reciprocating sliding in the longitudinal direction of the replenishment port C During replenishment, it is still not sufficient to maintain the outlet section B and the replenishment port C, for example, parallel to each other. In particular, since the weight of the container A is dependent on the abutment position, if the stability of the abutment position is insufficient, it will tend to shift, resulting in toner scattering.

The present invention was developed in view of the above, and it is possible to uniformly flow out the developer from the entire surface of the inlet at a suitable flow rate and speed, and to stably apply the developer to the edge of the developer replenishment port of the developing device. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer replenishment container having an adapter having a suitable abutment part that can be easily slid into contact with the adapter.

[Means to solve the problem]

The present invention provides a developer replenishment container consisting of a container body that accommodates developer and an adapter that guides the developer stored in the container body to the outside. a threaded portion; and a guide portion in which one of two sets of opposing surfaces extends asymptotically from the threaded portion toward the tip injection port, and the one opposing surface is Two parallel strings 2d with outer surfaces each having a cylindrical surface on the threaded part.
It has been extended from.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, when the parallel chords, which are the boundaries between the upper and lower opposing surfaces of the guide part and the cylindrical surface of the threaded part, are aligned and brought into contact with the edge of the developer replenishment port, the edge of the developer replenishment port is Since it fits into the V-shaped section of the string, the attitude of the injection port facing the supply port is stably fixed. Also,
The weight of the container is supported at the abutting position, eliminating the burden on the operator to support it in the direction of gravity. In this abutting state, the container is easily reciprocated in the longitudinal direction of the developer replenishing port while maintaining a constant posture.

Further, the developer is uniformly flowed out from the threaded portion through the asymptotic extending surface of the inner surface of the guide portion at a suitable flow rate and speed, and from the entire surface of the injection port.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, embodiments of this invention will be described based on the drawings.

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state in which a container body 1 and an adapter 2 are connected, so-called toner replenishment.

The present invention is composed of a developer replenishment container body 1, an adapter 2, and a lid 3, as shown in FIG. Male threads of the same diameter and pitch are formed near the replenishment port 1a of the container body 1 and near the tip 3a of the lid 3, and male screws of the same diameter and pitch are formed on the inside of the adapter 2 and the rear ends 2c and 3c of the lid 3. A female thread corresponding to the above male thread is formed.

The adapter 2 is composed of a guide portion 2a having an injection port 2b formed at the tip thereof, and a rear end portion 2c, and as described above, the rear end portion 2c has screws formed near the supply port 1a and near the tip portion 3a. It can be screwed onto any part.

In the guide portion 2a, of the two sets of opposing surfaces that face vertically and horizontally, only the vertically opposing surfaces are formed asymptotically, for example, vertically symmetrically, from the rear end side 2c toward the injection port 2b. On the other hand, the left and right opposing surfaces are formed to have the same or approximately the same dimensions as the rear end side 2c, that is, substantially the same dimensions. As a result,
The injection port 2b of the adapter 2 is formed in a rectangular shape having a narrow guide width in the left-right direction.

The vertically opposing surfaces of the guide portion 2a extend from two parallel chords 2d of cylindrical surfaces constituting the rear end portion 2c. As can be seen from FIG. 2, the intersection of the two surfaces has approximately 120 degrees in this embodiment.

Further, the upper and lower opposed surfaces of the guide portion 2a are formed asymptotically toward the injection port 2b, and in particular, as can be seen from FIG. 2, the inner surface is a continuous and gentle surface, so that the toner is It flows out uniformly from the entire surface of the inlet at a suitable flow rate and speed to the inlet. Furthermore, as is clear from FIG. 2, the areas near the tips are parallel or approximately parallel. Since this parallel portion and the left and right facing surfaces are parallel as a whole, it is easy to obtain a uniform toner outflow speed over the entire surface of the inlet 2b. That is, after the toner is regulated to an appropriate amount at the asymptotic portion of the upper and lower facing surfaces, the toner is maintained at a predetermined speed by this parallel portion and flows into the inlet 2b.
will be drained from the entire body at an even more equal rate. Therefore, toner is more uniformly replenished into the developer replenishment port C of the developing device.

Note that the amount of toner flowing out from the injection port 2b can be suitably set depending on the asymptotic condition of the upper and lower opposing surfaces of the guide portion 2a and the vertical dimension of the injection port. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to shake the container to encourage the toner to flow out, as is the case in the past. Further, depending on the asymptotic condition of the vertically opposing surfaces, the intersecting angle between the vertically opposing surfaces and the rear end portion 2c can be changed.

The lid body 3 is provided with a replenishment port attachment screw portion formed at the rear end portion 3c and an adapter attachment screw portion formed at the tip portion 3a. A lid body 3 is screwed between the adapter 2 and the adapter 2. As a result, the container main body 1 and the adapter 2 are stored in an integrated state, so there is no risk of them being lost.

When replenishing toner, as shown in FIG.
It is screwed on with a. In this state, by placing the inlet 2b of the adapter 2 facing the developer replenishment port C of the developing device (see Figure 3), the toner in the container body 1 is transferred to the guide portion 2a of the adapter 2 at a suitable flow rate and speed. It flows out from the injection port 2b at the tip and is replenished. At this time, the toner evenly flows out from the entire surface of the elongated injection port 2b.

FIG. 4 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 3, showing the state when toner is being supplied. When replenishing toner, first, the string 2d is brought into contact with the edge D on the near side in the longitudinal direction of the developer replenishing port C. Since the string 2d has a certain angle (approximately 120 degrees in this embodiment) and is straight, when the edge D fits into the string 2d having a V-shaped cross section, the developer in the container body 1, that is, the inlet 2b The posture facing the supply port C is maintained stably and parallel.
Furthermore, this abutment relieves the operator of the weight of the container and eliminates his burden. By sliding the container main body 1 back and forth in the longitudinal direction of the developer replenishing port C at a desired speed while maintaining this contact state, the inlet 2b
This makes it extremely easy to maintain a constant state of approach (in/out state) to the developer supply port C, and to make smooth movement in the longitudinal direction, making it possible to supply toner uniformly, quickly, and stably. . In particular, when the container body 1 contains enough toner, the weight of the toner is
Since the pressure is reduced by the contact with the edge D, the burden on the operator is reduced and stable toner replenishment becomes extremely easy.

In addition, since the string 2d is formed on both sides of the upper and lower facing surfaces, in addition to the side in front of the supply port C shown in FIG.
Contact can be made on any depth side.

[Effect of idea]

As described above, in the developer replenishment container according to the present invention, since the guide part extends asymptotically from the threaded part toward the tip injection port, the developer can be fed into the developing device at a suitable flow rate and speed. In addition, the developer can be uniformly flowed out from the entire surface of the injection port, and since the threaded part of the adapter and the opposing surface intersect with a straight line (chord) with a V-shaped cross section, developer can be supplied to this string. By bringing the edges of the mouth into contact with each other, it is possible to maintain a stable state of alignment between the injection port and the developer replenishment port, and the supporting burden on the worker who supports the container is extremely reduced, so that the developer can be The replenishment work can be done easily and quickly, and the developer can be distributed evenly into the developing device.
It becomes possible to replenish evenly. Furthermore, it will not be scattered outside the surrounding area.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the state of toner replenishment, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view, and FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a conventional toner replenishment state. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Developer replenishment container main body, 1a... Near the replenishment port, 2... Adapter, 2a... Guide portion, 2b...
...Injection port, 2d...string, D...the edge of the developer supply port.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a developer replenishment container consisting of a container body that accommodates developer and an adapter that guides the developer stored in the container body to the outside, the adapter includes a cylindrical threaded portion that can be screwed onto the container body. , a guide portion in which one of the two sets of opposing surfaces extends asymptotically from the threaded portion toward the tip injection port; A developer replenishment container characterized by extending from two parallel strings 2d of a cylindrical surface of a threaded portion.