JPH06236112A - Toner cartridge and electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the scattering of toner at the time of exchanging a toner cartridge and replenishing toner. CONSTITUTION:A magnet sheet 7 is stuck to the developing hopper 4a of a developing unit 4. The developing hopper 4a is equipped with the toner cartridge 1 and fresh magnetic toner T therein is sent to a toner replenishing roller 4b from an opening part 1a. Then, the toner T trying to enter into a gap A between the toner cartridge 1 and the developing hopper 4a is attracted to the magnet sheet 7, to prevent the scattering of the toner at the time of exchanging the toner cartridge 1.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an electrophotographic apparatus adopting an electrostatic recording system and a toner cartridge for supplying toner to the electrophotographic apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the structure of a developing unit in a conventional electrophotographic apparatus. 1 is a toner cartridge in which a magnetic toner T is stored, 2 is a photoconductor, 3
Is an exposure unit for exposing the charged photoconductor 2 to form an electrostatic latent image, and 4 is a toner T on the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor 2.
2 shows a developing device for making a visible image by adhering. This developing device 4
Is a developing hopper 4a for mounting the toner cartridge 1.
A toner replenishing roller 4b, a developing roller 4c for adhering the toner T from the toner replenishing roller 4b on the surface, and further adhering the toner T on the photoconductor 2, and a thin toner layer on the surface of the developing roller 4c. It is composed of a metal blade 4d that is frictionally charged.

Reference numeral 5 denotes an agitator that rotates inside the toner cartridge 1 to stir the toner T, and 6 denotes a shutter that opens and closes the opening 1a in association with the mounting and demounting operation of the toner cartridge 1.

When the toner cartridge 1 is attached to the developing hopper 4a, the shutter 6 opens. Then, the agitator 5 scrapes up the toner T, so that the toner T is sent to the toner replenishing roller 4b through the opening 1a.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the toner cartridge main body. As shown in FIG. 6, an opening 1a is formed on the side surface of the cylindrical main body. Further, the opening 1a is opened and closed by the shutter 6.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the toner cartridge 1 is removed from the developing hopper 4a. As shown in FIG. 7, the opening 1 a is closed by the shutter 6.

[0007]

In the above-mentioned conventional technique, the toner cartridge 1 can be detached from the developing device 4 and replaced, so that the toner can be easily replenished by the user.

However, the toner is developed from the opening 1a to the developing device 4
When the toner is supplied to the toner, the toner easily enters the gap A between the toner cartridge 1 and the developing hopper 4a. Therefore, when the toner cartridge is replaced, the toner easily scatters in the apparatus, and problems such as stains easily occur.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and to provide a toner cartridge and an electrophotographic apparatus which prevent the toner from scattering when the toner cartridge is replaced or when the toner is supplied.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is provided with a shutter which can be attached to and detached from an apparatus main body, opens and closes in accordance with attachment and detachment, and supplies a novel magnetic toner to a developing device. In the toner cartridge described above, the shutter is provided with a guide portion for sending the toner to the developing device.

A toner cartridge which is detachable from the main body of the apparatus and supplies new magnetic toner to the developing device is characterized in that a magnet sheet is provided on the outer periphery.

In an electrophotographic apparatus equipped with a removable toner cartridge for supplying a new magnetic toner, a magnet sheet is provided in the mounting portion of the toner cartridge.

Further, the present invention is characterized in that a magnet sheet is provided in a mounting portion for mounting the toner cartridge having a guide portion.

[0014]

By adopting the above construction, the following operation will occur.

First, since the guide portion is provided to cover the space between the toner cartridge and the mounting portion, it is possible to prevent the toner from entering between the cartridge and the mounting portion when the toner is supplied.

Further, since the magnet sheet is provided on the outer circumference of the toner cartridge, the toner spilled between the toner cartridge and its mounting portion and the toner scattered around the toner cartridge are attracted to the inside of the apparatus. Toner scattering is prevented.

Further, even if toner spills between the toner cartridge and the mounting portion of the toner cartridge,
Since the spilled toner is attracted to the magnet sheet, the toner is prevented from scattering into the device.

Also, by covering the space between the toner cartridge and the mounting portion with the guide portion, it is possible to prevent the toner from entering the gap, and if the toner spills into the gap, the spilled toner is magnetized. The toner is prevented from scattering in the device because it is adsorbed on the sheet.

[0019]

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The same members as those in the conventional apparatus shown in FIG. 5 are designated by the same reference numerals.

FIG. 1 is a constitutional view showing a first embodiment of the present invention, and 7 shows a magnet sheet attached to a developing hopper 4a in which the toner cartridge 1 is installed. The basic configurations of the toner cartridge 1 and the developing device 4 are the same as those of the conventional apparatus shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7.

By rotating the agitator 5 in the X direction in the figure and scraping up the toner T, the toner T in the toner cartridge 1 is sent to the toner replenishing roller 4b from the opening 1a. At this time, the toner cartridge 1 and the developing hopper 4
The toner T that has entered the gap A between the a is attached to the magnet sheet 7 and is held as it is.

In this way, the magnet sheet 7 is provided,
By holding the toner T that has entered the gap A, it is possible to prevent the toner T in the gap A from scattering during the attachment / detachment operation when the toner cartridge 1 is replaced. Therefore, when the toner cartridge 1 is replaced, the toner is not scattered and the inside of the apparatus is not soiled and the clothes of the user are not soiled.

FIG. 2 is a constitutional view showing a second embodiment of the present invention. Reference numeral 8 denotes a guide portion formed on the side portion of the shutter 6 on the side of the opening 1a and extending outward from the inside of the opening 1a. Show. The guide portion 8 covers the open end of the gap A between the toner cartridge 1 and the developing hopper 4a. Further, the basic configurations of the toner cartridge 1 and the developing device 4 are the same as those of the conventional apparatus shown in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, as in the first embodiment.

By the rotation of the agitator 5, the toner T of the toner cartridge 1 is sent from the opening 1a through the guide portion 8 to the toner replenishing roller 4b.

By thus providing the guide portion 8 and covering the gap A, the toner T is prevented from entering the gap A at the time of toner supply, so that the toner is scattered when the toner cartridge 1 is replaced, The inside of the device and the clothes of the user are not soiled.

In the second embodiment, in order to prevent the toner T attached to the guide portion 8 from scattering during the replacement of the toner cartridge 1, the base or the whole of the guide portion 8 is made of a flexible member. , The storage part 1 of the shutter 6
It should be configured so that it can be stored in b.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the present invention is not limited to these. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, a configuration in which the first embodiment and the second embodiment are combined,
That is, the magnet sheet 7 may be attached to the developing hopper 4a, the guide portion 8 may be further provided on the shutter 6, and the opening end of the gap A between the toner cartridge 1 and the developing hopper 4a may be covered. Further, with this configuration, it is possible to more reliably prevent the toner from scattering when the toner cartridge 1 is replaced.

The magnet sheet 7 may be attached not only to the developing hopper 4a but also to the outer surface of the toner cartridge 1 as shown in FIG. Further, by sticking in such a manner, the degree of freedom of the sticking position is increased, and the scattered toner around the toner cartridge 1 can be more reliably collected. Therefore, the amount of toner scattered around the toner cartridge 1 in the electrophotographic apparatus is reduced.

[0029]

The present invention has the following effects by being configured as described above.

When the toner cartridge according to the first aspect is used, since the gap between the toner cartridge and the mounting portion is covered by the guide portion, the magnetic toner is prevented from entering the gap. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the inside of the apparatus, the clothes of the user, and the like from being soiled due to the scattering of the toner when the toner cartridge is replaced.

When the toner cartridge according to the second aspect is used, the magnet sheet provided on the outer surface of the toner cartridge adsorbs the scattered toner around the toner cartridge, so that the scattered toner inside the apparatus can be collected.

In the electrophotographic apparatus of the third aspect, even if the magnetic toner enters the gap between the toner cartridge and its mounting portion, it is prevented from being scattered inside the apparatus because it is adsorbed by the magnet sheet. Therefore,
When the toner cartridge is replaced, the inside of the apparatus and the user's clothes can be prevented from being contaminated due to toner scattering.

In the electrophotographic apparatus of claim 4, the guide portion prevents the magnetic toner from entering the gap between the toner cartridge and its mounting portion, and even if the toner enters the gap, the magnetic sheet is attached to the magnet sheet. Since the toner is adsorbed, it is possible to more efficiently prevent the toner from scattering when the toner cartridge is replaced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of a first embodiment of an electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of a second embodiment of an electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of a third embodiment of an electrophotographic apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a toner cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a main part of a conventional electrophotographic apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a conventional toner cartridge.

7 is an explanatory diagram showing a state where a shutter of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 6 is closed.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Toner cartridge, 4 ... Developing device, 4a ... Development hopper, 6 ... Shutter, 7 ... Magnet sheet,
8 ... Guide section.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A toner cartridge, which is detachable from the main body of the apparatus, has a shutter that opens and closes in accordance with attachment and detachment, and supplies a new magnetic toner to a developing device, and sends the toner to the shutter to the developing device. A toner cartridge having a guide portion formed. 2. A toner cartridge which is detachable from the main body of the apparatus and supplies new magnetic toner to a developing device, wherein a magnet sheet is provided on the outer periphery of the toner cartridge. 3. An electrophotographic apparatus equipped with a detachable toner cartridge for supplying a new magnetic toner, wherein a magnet sheet is provided in a mounting portion of the toner cartridge. 4. An electrophotographic apparatus, wherein a magnet sheet is provided in a mounting portion for mounting the toner cartridge according to claim 1.