JPH06148968A - Toner cartridge for developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To correctly load plural toner cartridges at prescribed positions and to prevent play from occurring among the toner cartridges at the rotating time of a developing device as for the toner cartridges used for the rotary type color developing device. CONSTITUTION:A projecting part or a recessed part is provided on the flat outer walls of the fan-shaped toner cartridges 12a-12d and they are formed cylindrical as a whole by the engagement of the projecting part and the recessed part. Besides, they are constituted so that one set of projecting and recessed parts 15b and 14a whose cross sections are rectangular can be attachably engaged as for the cartridges 12a and 12b, two sets of projecting and recessed parts 15c and 14b whose cross sections are semi-circular can be attachably engaged as for the cartridges 12b and 12c, one set of projecting and recessed parts 15d and 14c whose cross sections are semi-circular can be attachably engaged as for the cartridges 12c and 12d and two sets of projecting and recessed parts 15a and 14d whose cross sections are rectangular can be attachably engaged as for the cartridges 12d and 12a.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner cartridge in an electrophotographic rotary color developing device using a plurality of developing devices.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a rotary color developing device having a plurality of developing devices, toner has been supplied to each developing device from a plurality of toner cartridges mounted on the side surface of the developing device. Alternatively, the toner is directly replenished to a toner replenishing drum provided on the side surface of the developing device.

[0003]

However, in the conventional toner cartridge mounted on the side surface of the developing device, there is a risk that the toner cartridge is erroneously mounted at a position which should not be mounted. Alternatively, when the toner cartridge is mounted, a slight displacement of the mounting position may occur, causing toner scattering. Further, a pressing member is required to prevent the toner cartridge from moving when the developing device rotates. Further, the conventional toner cartridge has a cylindrical shape or a substantially triangular shape,
The volume occupied by the actual toner cartridge is smaller than the space occupied by the toner cartridge when the developing device rotates, and the space is wasted.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to solve the above problems of the conventional toner cartridge.

[0005]

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge having a convex portion and a concave portion which are fitted in toner cartridges adjacent to each other, and is inserted / removed (inserted / removed) only in a predetermined adjacent toner cartridge. ) Is possible and toner cartridges that should not be adjacent to each other interfere with each other and cannot be inserted and removed.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge having a convex portion and a concave portion which are fitted in the toner cartridges adjacent to each other, and the insertion and removal thereof can be performed only from one direction.
Moreover, when they are mounted on the developing device, they interfere with each other in the radial direction of rotation and cannot come off.

According to another aspect of the toner cartridge of the present invention, the plurality of toner cartridges mounted on the developing device have a cylindrical outer shape as a whole.

[0008]

In the first aspect, the toner cartridge is
Each of the toner cartridges has a convex portion and a concave portion that fit into adjacent toner cartridges, and only predetermined adjacent toner cartridges can be inserted and removed. Toner cartridges that should not be adjacent to each other interfere with each other and cannot be inserted and removed. Therefore, when one toner cartridge becomes the toner end and the toner cartridge is replaced, a toner cartridge of a different color is not accidentally attached.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the toner cartridge has a convex portion and a concave portion that are fitted to the toner cartridges adjacent to each other, and can be inserted and removed only from one direction. Therefore, when the toner cartridge is inserted and removed, the convex portions and the concave portions serve as guides, and the toner cartridge can be easily attached and detached in the correct position without being displaced in other directions. Moreover, when the toner cartridges are mounted on the developing device, they interfere with each other in the radial direction of rotation and do not come off. Therefore, when the developing device rotates and the entire toner cartridge also rotates, each toner cartridge moves in the radial direction of rotation. There is no need for a member for fixing so as not to fall off.

In the third aspect, since the plurality of toner cartridges mounted on the developing device have a cylindrical outer shape as a whole, the toner cartridge occupies when the developing device rotates and the entire toner cartridge also rotates. The space becomes equal to the volume occupied by the actual toner cartridge, and the space can be used 100% effectively.

[0011]

EXAMPLES The present invention will now be described in more detail by way of examples. [Embodiment 1] FIG. 1 shows a toner cartridge 12a of the present invention.
To 12d (see FIGS. 2 and 3), an essential part cross-sectional view showing an example of the developing device 2, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the toner cartridges 12a to 12d are mounted on the developing device 2. 3 is a front view of these toner cartridges.

In the field of color electrophotography, the developing device 2 shown in FIG. 1 is arranged close to the electrostatic latent image carrier 1 and sequentially supplies toners of different colors to the electrostatic latent images to perform multicolor development. It is a thing. In FIG. 1, 3 is a developing roller, 4 is a toner replenishing roller, 5 is a doctor blade, 6 is a toner replenishing auger, 7 is a toner collecting auger, 8 is a black developing device, 9 is a yellow developing device, 10 is a magenta developing device, 11 Is a cyan developing device.

The developing device 2 comprises the four developing devices 8-11 and the four toner cartridges 12a-12d corresponding to the respective developing devices. The situation is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.

The developing devices 8 to 11 are assembled in a cylindrical shape and are rotatably supported about their central axes (rotational drive mechanism is not shown). The developing devices 8 to 11 are sequentially rotated by 90 degrees. Toners of different colors are supplied to the latent image carrier 1. That is, the toner cartridges 12a to
12d are attached to the side surfaces of the developing devices 8 to 11 of the corresponding colors and so as to close the toner supply ports, and are rotated together with the developing device when the developing device 2 is rotated.

Next, the toner cartridges 12a-12
Details of the structure of d will be described. As shown in FIG.
Each toner cartridge has a fan-shaped cross section and four peripheral surfaces, two of which are circumferential surfaces facing each other and the other peripheral surfaces are planes orthogonal to each other. Toner cartridges that have matching convex and concave portions and can be inserted and removed only in a predetermined adjacent toner cartridge, and toner cartridges that should not be adjacent to each other interfere with each other and cannot be inserted and removed. The toner cartridges are assembled to each other to have a cylindrical outer shape as a whole, and are formed so that there is no gap between the toner cartridges.

That is, the toner cartridge is the four toner cartridges 1 corresponding to the four developing devices 8-11.
2a to 12d, each toner cartridge has a convex portion and a concave portion that differ depending on the color of the toner contained therein. The convex portion 14a of the black (B) toner cartridge 12a fits only into the concave portion 15b of the yellow (Y) toner cartridge 12b, and the convex portions 14b and 14b of the yellow toner cartridge 12b are magenta (M) toner cartridges. 12c recess 15c, 1
Magenta toner cartridge 12 that fits only in 5c
The convex portion 14c of c is the toner cartridge 1 for cyan (C).
The protrusions 14d and 14d of the cyan toner cartridge 12d are fitted only into the recesses 15d of 2d, and the protrusions 14d and 14d of the cyan toner cartridge 12d are fitted into only the recesses 15a and 15a of the black toner cartridge 12a.

The developing device 2 is not provided with a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of a toner cartridge, but if a sensor for detecting the presence / absence of a toner cartridge of only one color is provided, all the toner cartridges can be surely removed. It can be confirmed that each color is installed without mistake.

[Embodiment 2] FIG. 4 shows another example of the toner cartridge of the present invention. This toner cartridge has 4
Four toner cartridges 12e corresponding to one developing device
It consists of ~ 12h. Each of these toner cartridges has a convex portion or a concave portion that differs depending on the color of the toner contained therein. The concave portion 15e of the black toner cartridge 12e is the cyan toner cartridge 12e.
The convex portion 14h of the yellow toner cartridge 12f is fitted only in the convex portion 14h of the h, and the convex portion 14f of the yellow toner cartridge 12f is fitted only in the concave portion 15g of the magenta toner cartridge 12g.

In this embodiment, as is clear from the comparison between FIGS. 3 and 4, the concave and convex fitting form is simpler than that of the first embodiment, and there is an advantage that the cost of the toner cartridge is low.

[Embodiment 3] FIGS. 5 to 7 show still another example of the toner cartridge of the present invention. 5 is a front view of the toner cartridge, FIG. 6 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 7 is a bottom view thereof.

This embodiment is similar to Embodiments 1 and 2 in that it is composed of a combination of four toner cartridges 12i to 12m each having a fan-shaped cross section, and has a convex portion or a concave portion to be fitted to an adjacent toner cartridge. However, they differ in the following points.

Specifically, one groove-shaped recess 15j is formed on the flat surface side of the toner cartridge 12j in the radial direction of the toner cartridge, and the recess is formed on the adjacent surface of the adjacent toner cartridge 12i. A rod-shaped complementary convex portion 14i to be fitted to 15j is formed. Further, two bar-shaped convex portions 14k are formed on the flat surface side of the toner cartridge 12k in the radial direction of the toner cartridge.
A groove-shaped complementary concave portion 15m to be fitted to the convex portion 14k is formed on the adjacent surface portion of 2m. Further, the ridges of the convex portion and the concave portion have the same direction.

Therefore, these toner cartridges can be inserted and removed only from one direction. That is, the toner cartridge can be attached and detached only in the direction along the direction of the ridgeline, and cannot be attached and detached in other directions because of interference with each other.

[Embodiment 4] FIGS. 8 to 10 show still another example of the toner cartridge of the present invention. 8 is a front view of the toner cartridge, FIG. 9 is a plan view thereof, and FIG. 10 is a bottom view thereof.

This embodiment is similar to the first and second embodiments in that it is composed of a combination of four toner cartridges 12n to 12r having a fan-shaped cross section and has a convex portion or a concave portion to be fitted to an adjacent toner cartridge. However, they differ in the following points.

Specifically, one groove-shaped recess 15p is formed on the flat surface side of the toner cartridge 12p in the axial direction of the toner cartridge (perpendicular to the drawing),
On the adjacent surface portion of the adjacent toner cartridge 12n, a rod-shaped complementary convex portion 14 to be fitted in the concave portion 15p.
n are formed. Also, the toner cartridge 12p
Two bar-shaped convex portions 14p are formed on the flat surface side of the above, and a groove-shaped complementary concave portion 15q to be fitted into the convex portion 14p is formed on the adjacent surface portion of the adjacent toner cartridge 12q. ing. Similarly, in the toner cartridges 12q and 12r, the concavo-convex portions 15r and 14q can be fitted, and in the toner cartridges 12r and 12n, the concavo-convex portion 15r.
n and 14r are formed so that they can be fitted to each other.

The convex portion and the concave portion have the same ridgeline direction, and the direction is perpendicular to the radial direction of rotation of the toner cartridge. Further, at least a part of the convex portion other than the root is thicker than the root. Further, the concave portion is adapted to be fitted tightly into the convex portion without a gap, and the entrance thereof is narrower than at least a part of the inside.

[0028]

The toner cartridge according to the first aspect of the present invention has a convex portion and a concave portion which are fitted to the toner cartridges adjacent to each other, and can be inserted and removed only in a predetermined adjacent toner cartridge, and should not be adjacent. Since the toner cartridges that do not exist do not interfere with each other and cannot be inserted or removed, when one toner cartridge becomes the toner end and a toner cartridge is replaced, a toner cartridge of a different color is not accidentally attached.
The toner cartridge according to claim 2 has a convex portion and a concave portion that are fitted to the toner cartridges adjacent to each other, and can be inserted and removed only from one direction.
When the toner cartridge is inserted or removed, the convex portion and the concave portion serve as guides, and the toner cartridge can be mounted and removed at the correct position without shifting in other directions. Moreover, when the toner cartridges are mounted in the developing device, they interfere with each other in the radial direction of rotation and do not come out. Therefore, when the developing device rotates and the entire toner cartridge also rotates, each toner cartridge moves in the radial direction of rotation. There is no need for a member for fixing so as not to fall off. In the toner cartridge according to claim 3, the plurality of toner cartridges attached to the developing device have a cylindrical outer shape as a whole, and therefore, when the developing device rotates and the entire toner cartridge also rotates, The space occupied is equal to the volume occupied by the actual toner cartridge, and the space can be used 100% effectively.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a developing device in which a toner cartridge of the present invention is mounted, showing four developing devices arranged in proximity to an electrostatic latent image carrier.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the toner cartridge according to the first exemplary embodiment of the present invention is mounted on the developing device, and is a diagram showing a cylindrical outer shape of all four toner cartridges.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the toner cartridge of FIG.
FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a toner cartridge having a fitting convex portion and a concave portion that differ depending on the color of the toner contained therein.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the toner cartridge according to the second exemplary embodiment, showing the toner cartridge having a fitting convex portion or a concave portion that is different depending on the color of the toner contained therein.

FIG. 5 is a front view of a toner cartridge according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention, showing a toner cartridge in which a fitting convex portion and a concave portion are formed into a rod shape and a groove shape, respectively, and the ridge lines of the concave and convex portions are the same. It is a figure.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of FIG.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of FIG.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the toner cartridge according to the fourth exemplary embodiment, in which the fitting convex portion and the concave portion have the same ridge line direction, and the direction is perpendicular to the radial direction of rotation of the toner cartridge. Yes, further, at least a part of the convex portion other than the root is thicker than the root,
FIG. 4 is a view showing a toner cartridge in which the concave portion is fitted tightly into the convex portion without a gap, and the entrance thereof is narrower than at least a part of the inside.

9 is a plan view of FIG. 8. FIG.

FIG. 10 is a bottom view of FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 latent image carrier 2 developing device 3 developing roller 4 toner replenishing roller 5 doctor blade 6 toner replenishing auger 7 toner collecting auger 8 black developing device 9 yellow developing device 10 magenta developing device 11 cyan developing device 12a-12r toner cartridge 13 toner replenishing Mouth 14a-14r Convex part 15a-15r Concave part

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Koichi Noguchi 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock company Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Takeshi Jara Inc. 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stocks In Ricoh Company (72) Inventor Eiichi Sasaki 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Ricoh (72) Inventor Noriyuki Kimura 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock Company Ricoh (72) Inventor, Umitsu Fujishiro, 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo, Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Chiyako Hatsuyama 1-3-3, Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A developing device having at least a plurality of developing devices, rotatably supported at a predetermined position facing a latent image carrier, and having a plurality of toner cartridges for supplying toner to the respective developing devices. In the above, the plurality of toner cartridges each have a convex portion and a concave portion that are fitted into adjacent toner cartridges, and only predetermined adjacent toner cartridges can be inserted and removed, and toner cartridges that should not be adjacent do not interfere with each other. A toner cartridge in a developing device, wherein the toner cartridge cannot be inserted and removed. 2. A developing device having at least a plurality of developing devices, rotatably supported at a predetermined position facing a latent image carrier, and having a plurality of toner cartridges for supplying toner to the respective developing devices. In the above, the plurality of toner cartridges each have a convex portion and a concave portion that are fitted to the toner cartridges adjacent to each other, and the convex portion and the concave portion can be inserted and removed only in one direction, and the toner cartridge can be installed in the developing device. A toner cartridge in a developing device, wherein when mounted, they interfere with each other in the radial direction of rotation and do not come out. 3. The toner cartridge in a developing device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of toner cartridges have a cylindrical outer shape as a whole when mounted in the developing device.