JPH0544829Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Industrial Application Field] This invention relates to a toner cartridge for supplying toner to a developing device such as an electronic copying machine or a laser printer.

[Prior Art] A conventional toner cartridge of this kind is shown in Fig. 3, in which 1 is a cartridge case, and one end of the cartridge case 1 is provided with an inlet 2 and one side of the cartridge case 1 is provided with an outlet 3.
A seal-like closing member 4 is attached to the cartridge case 1 by welding or the like, and in this state, a predetermined amount of toner T is filled into the cartridge case 1 through the injection port 2 during the manufacturing process, and then a seal-like sealing member 5 is attached to the injection port 2, thereby airtightly sealing the inside of the cartridge case 1 and preventing leakage of the toner T. The closing member 4 is folded back at part a, and the terminal side of the fold passes through the end face of the cartridge case 1 and is drawn out to the bottom side of the cartridge case 1 in the figure.

When using the toner cartridge configured as described above, it is inverted from the state shown in the figure and attached to the developing device, and in this state, the drawing end of the closing member 4 is pulled to close the closing member 4 to the outlet 3. Peel it off. As a result, the outlet 3 is opened, and the toner T in the cartridge case 1 is supplied into the developing device through the outlet 3.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] In such toner cartridges, when the surrounding air pressure drops during air transport, or when the inside of the cartridge case becomes hot due to heat transfer to the cartridge case 1, a pressure difference occurs between the inside and outside of the cartridge case 1, and this pressure difference may cause the blocking member 4 or sealing member 5 to peel off or break, causing the toner T inside to leak out. This invention is intended to solve such problems.

[Means for Solving the Problems] In order to solve these problems, this invention provides a cartridge case containing toner, an inlet for toner injection provided in this cartridge case, and a toner outflow port provided in the cartridge case. A sealing member provided at the inlet and a removable closing member provided at the outlet, the sealing member having at least a central portion facing the inlet. An elastic part that can be elastically deformed,
A through hole is formed in this elastic portion, and the through hole expands according to the elastic deformation of the elastic portion, and the through hole is expanded by the elastic deformation of the elastic portion based on the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cartridge case. It is expanded so that the inside and outside communicate with each other.

[Function] When an air pressure difference occurs between the inside and outside of the cartridge case, the pressure caused by this air pressure difference causes the elastic part of the sealing member to elastically deform and the through hole expands, and this expansion causes the cartridge case to close. The air inside the cartridge case flows out to the outside, the pressure difference disappears, and the air pressure inside and outside the cartridge case becomes balanced.

[Example] An example of this invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Note that parts that are the same as those in the conventional configuration are designated by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and their explanations will be omitted.

A sealing member 10 is attached to the injection port 2 of the cartridge case 1. This sealing member 10
The sealing member 10 is formed into a seal shape with an elastic body such as rubber, and the center portion of the sealing member 10 faces the inlet 2 . Then, in the center of this sealing member 10, 0.5~
A through hole 13 formed by piercing a needle-like member with a diameter of about 0.8 mm is provided.

This through hole 13 is normally hermetically sealed by the elastic compressive force of the sealing member 10, so that the toner T in the cartridge case 1 will not leak out.

In such a configuration, for example, when the toner cartridge is transported by air, the air pressure inside the cartridge case 1 increases relative to the outside air pressure, and a pressure difference is created between the inside and the outside. When this occurs, this pressure difference causes the central portion of the sealing member 10 to elastically deform so as to bulge outward, as shown in FIG.

When the sealing member 10 is elastically deformed so as to bulge outward in this manner, tension is generated on the membrane surface of the sealing member 10.

The through hole 13 formed in the sealing member 10 is
Normally, the seal is sealed by the elastic compressive force of the sealing member 10, but when the sealing member 10 is elastically deformed and tension is generated on its membrane surface, the compressive force against the through hole 13 is loosened, and this At this time, there is a pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cartridge case 1, and therefore, when the pressure difference rises above a certain level, the through hole 13 expands.

As the through-hole 13 expands, the air inside the cartridge case 1 quickly flows out through the through-hole 13. Therefore, the air pressure between the inside and outside of the cartridge case 1 is balanced and the difference in air pressure disappears, and excessive pressure is not applied to the closing member 4 and the sealing member 10. Peeling and damage of the sealing member 10 are prevented.

[Effects of the invention] As explained above, according to this invention, a sealing member is provided at the injection port of the cartridge case, and at least the center portion of the sealing member facing the injection port is made into an elastic portion that can be elastically deformed. Since a through hole is formed in this elastic part that expands according to the elastic deformation of the elastic part, when a pressure difference occurs between the inside and outside of the cartridge case, the elastic part of the sealing member is elastically deformed and the through-hole expands, and this expansion balances the air pressure inside and outside the cartridge case, eliminating the difference in air pressure, thereby preventing excessive pressure from being applied to the closing member and the sealing member. First, it is possible to avoid peeling or damage of the closing member and the sealing member, thereby reliably preventing leakage of toner.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the state when the sealing member of the toner cartridge is elastically deformed, and FIG. 3 is a conventional toner cartridge. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a toner cartridge of FIG. 1...Cartridge case, 2...Inlet, 3
... Outflow port, 4... Closing member, 10... Sealing member, 13... Through hole.

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claim for Utility Model Registration] A cartridge case containing toner, an inlet for injecting toner and an outlet for outflowing toner provided in the cartridge case, a sealing member provided at the inlet, and and a removable closing member provided at the outlet, wherein the sealing member has an elastic part that can be elastically deformed at least in a central part facing the inlet, and the elastic part has a removable closing member. A through hole is formed that expands according to the elastic deformation of the elastic portion, and the through hole expands due to the elastic deformation of the elastic portion based on the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the cartridge case, thereby causing the cartridge case to expand. A toner cartridge cartridge characterized in that the inside and outside of the storage case communicate with each other.