JPH0633158U - Image forming device developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] Toner is easily and uniformly supplied into the toner case without being biased. [Structure] In the toner cartridge 8, a plurality of partition plates 33 are integrally formed so as to be orthogonal to the lengthwise direction of the cartridge 8, thereby forming a plurality of toner filling chambers 34. The opening 30 is sealed by the film cover 32 in a state where the toner T is contained in each of the toner filling chambers 34 in substantially the same amount. By removing and removing the film cover 32, the toner T in the cartridge 8 is transferred into the toner case 7. In each toner filling chamber 34,
Even if the toner T is unevenly accommodated, the toner T is accommodated in a substantially uniform state in the length direction of the cartridge 8 as a whole of the toner cartridge 8. Therefore, even if the toner cartridge 8 is mounted on the toner case 7 without being shaken in the horizontal direction and in a tilted state, the toner T in the cartridge 8 is accommodated substantially uniformly in the case 7 without being biased.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a developing device of an image forming apparatus that visualizes a latent image by attaching toner to an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 In a developing device of this type of image forming apparatus, as shown in FIG. 5, a toner cartridge 42 filled with replenishment toner T can be attached to and detached from an upper opening 41a of a toner case 41 containing toner T. It is designed to be attached to. An opening 42a is formed in the toner cartridge 42, and the opening 42a is sealed by a film cover 43 during manufacturing.

When a new toner cartridge 42 is attached to the toner case 41 to replenish the toner T, the toner cartridge 42 is set on the upper surface of the toner case 41 so that the opening 42a is located below. To do. Then, as shown by the chain line in FIG. 5, by peeling off the film cover 43 from the gap between the toner cartridge 42 and the toner case 41, the toner T in the toner cartridge 42 drops into the toner case 41 and is transferred. It is designed to be used.

At this time, if the toner T in the toner cartridge 42 is biased to one side as shown by the solid line in FIG. 5, it is transferred to the toner case 41 as shown by the chain line in FIG. The toner T thus collected is also stored in a state of being biased to one side. The toner T in the toner case 41 is attached to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum (not shown) via the developing roller 44. However, if the toner T is stored in a biased state. However, the toner T cannot be uniformly supplied onto the developing roller 44. Therefore, the toner T cannot be uniformly attached to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum, and the density of the toner image formed on the recording paper is different between the left and the right, which deteriorates the image quality. There is a risk.

Further, although a sensor (not shown) for detecting the remaining amount of the toner T in the case 41 is attached to the toner case 41, if the toner T is accommodated in a biased state, the toner T The remaining amount of can not be detected accurately. Therefore, although the toner T is actually sufficient in the toner case 41, the sensor determines that the toner T is insufficient, and the user replenishes the toner T with another problem.

Incidentally, the toner T in the toner case 41 is normally agitated by an agitator arranged in the case 41, and even if the toner T is accommodated in a biased state, the toner T is agitated by the agitator. It seems that the toner T becomes uniform by stirring. However, even if the toner T is agitated by the agitator, it takes a considerable amount of time from the biased state to the uniform state of the toner T, and the toner T is replenished in the toner case 41. It does not immediately become uniform.

Therefore, in the conventional developing device, before the toner cartridge 42 is mounted in the toner case 41, the toner cartridge 42 is shaken in the horizontal direction so that the toner T 1 in the interior is evenly distributed without being unevenly distributed. Had to do.

[0008]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 Therefore, the user needs to shake the toner cartridge 42 before mounting it in the toner case 41, which makes the mounting work of the cartridge 42 complicated. Even if the toner cartridge 42 is shaken, if the cartridge 42 is tilted immediately before being mounted in the toner case 41, the toner T inside may be biased. Therefore, it is necessary for the user to mount the cartridge 42 on the toner case 41 while holding the cartridge 42 in a horizontal state as much as possible, which makes the mounting work very troublesome.

As described above, conventionally, it is troublesome to mount the toner cartridge 42 in the toner case 41 and uniformly replenish the toner T in the cartridge 42 into the case 41 without uneven distribution. There was a problem.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and an object thereof is to develop an image forming apparatus capable of easily and uniformly replenishing toner into the toner case without uneven distribution. To provide a container.

[0011]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, in the present invention, the upper surface is opened, the toner case containing the toner and the replenishing toner are filled, and the opening is attached to the upper surface opening portion of the toner case in a detachable manner. In the toner cartridge, a plurality of toner filling chambers are defined by partitioning members in the toner cartridge.

[0012]

[Action]

 Therefore, according to the present invention, since a plurality of toner filling chambers are defined by the partition member in the toner cartridge, even if toner is biased in one toner filling chamber, the entire cartridge is As you can see, the toner is stored in the cartridge in a substantially uniform manner. Therefore, even if the toner cartridge is mounted in the toner case without being shaken in the horizontal direction and in a tilted state, the toner in the cartridge is substantially uniformly contained in the case.

[0013]

【Example】

 An embodiment embodying the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 4, the device case 1A is formed in a substantially box shape with an upper surface opened, and a lid 1B is attached to the upper surface opening portion by a support shaft 1a so as to be openable and closable. A photosensitive drum 2 as a photosensitive member is rotatably supported in the center of the apparatus case 1A, and a photoconductive film 3 is formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof. The charger 4 uniformly charges the photoconductive film 3 to a predetermined potential. The exposure device 5 forms an electrostatic latent image of a predetermined potential on the photosensitive drum 2 by irradiating light.

The developing device 6 is arranged so as to face the outer periphery of the rear portion of the photosensitive drum 2, a toner case 7 for containing the toner T, and a toner cartridge 8 detachably mounted on the toner case 7. A developing roller 9 is provided at the lower end opening in the toner case 7 so as to face the photosensitive drum 2 closely. Then, a predetermined electric potential is applied to the toner T by the developing roller 9, and the toner T is attached to the electrostatic latent image based on the difference between the electric potential and the electric potential of the electrostatic latent image to form an electrostatic latent image. To be visualized.

The paper feed cassette 10 is detachably attached to the lower portion of the apparatus case 1A, and a large number of recording papers P are accommodated in the paper feed cassette 10 in a stacked state. The paper feeding roller 11 is arranged opposite to the paper feeding side of the paper feeding cassette 10, and the rotation of the roller 11 feeds the recording paper P one by one from the paper feeding cassette 10. Then, the fed recording paper P is transported to the lower portion of the photosensitive drum 2 via the paper guide 12 and the pair of feed rollers 13.

The guide roller 14 brings the recording paper P into close contact with the photosensitive drum 2, and the transfer device 15 gives a predetermined electric potential to the close contact portion. Based on the difference between the electric potential and the electric potential of the toner image, the photosensitive drum is caused. The toner image on No. 2 is transferred onto the recording paper P.

The charge eliminating lamp 16 exposes the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 2 after the transfer to eliminate the charge. The cleaning brush 17 removes paper dust and the like adhering to the photosensitive drum 2 after transfer. The memory removal brush 18 made of a conductive brush disturbs the toner T remaining on the photosensitive drum 2 after transfer, and uniformly disperses the toner T on the photosensitive drum 2. Incidentally, the developing device 6 also performs a cleaning operation for collecting the residual toner T dispersed by the memory removing brush 18 by electrostatic attraction, in parallel with the developing operation.

The heat fixing device 19 is disposed on the paper delivery side of the photosensitive drum 2, and the recording paper P is sent between the heating roller 20 and the pressure roller 21 of the fixing device 19 and is placed on the recording paper P. Toner image is fixed by heating. The recording paper P on which the image fixing is completed is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 22.

Next, the structure of the developing device 6 will be described in detail. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the rectangular cartridge mounting opening 26 is formed by opening the upper surface of the toner case 7. A locking body 27 is fixed to the front edge of the opening of the mounting opening 26. The locking lever 28 is attached to the central portion of the rear outer surface of the toner case 7 with a screw 29, and has a thin portion 28a, a locking portion 28b, and an operating portion 28a.

On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the toner cartridge 8 is formed in a substantially box shape, and a flange portion 31 is formed on the periphery of the opening 30 formed in the lower portion. A plurality of partition plates 33 as partition members are integrally formed in the toner cartridge 8 so as to directly intersect the length direction of the toner cartridge 8, and these partition plates 33 allow a plurality of partition plates 33 in the toner cartridge 8. A toner filling chamber 34 is defined and formed.

Then, at the time of manufacturing, the toner T is stored in the toner filling chambers 34 of the toner cartridge 8 in substantially the same amount, and the outer surface of the flange portion 31 and the partition plate 33 are sealed so as to seal the opening 30. A film cover 32 made of a vinyl sheet is attached to the end surface. As a result, the toner T is filled and sealed in the toner filling chamber 34 of the toner cartridge 8 in a divided state. The film cover 32 is folded in two, and one end of the film cover 32 projects outside the toner cartridge 8.

The toner sensor 35 is arranged at the lower rear side of the toner case 7 so as to face it, and when the toner T in the toner case 7 falls below a predetermined amount, a detection signal is output from the toner sensor 35.

Next, the operation of the image forming apparatus configured as described above will be described. In the image forming apparatus of this embodiment, when a detection signal is output from the toner sensor 35 and the toner T needs to be replenished in the toner case 7 of the developing device 6, the lid 1B is opened and rotated. Then, the upper surface of the device case 1A is opened. Then, when the operating portion 28c of the locking lever 28 is pressed backward, the locking lever 28 bends backward in the thin portion 28a, the locking portion 28b is separated from the flange 31 of the toner cartridge 8, and the toner cartridge 8 Is unlocked. When the toner cartridge 8 is moved rearward in this state, the front edge of the flange portion 31 is separated from between the locking body 27 and the toner case 7, and the toner cartridge 8 can be removed from the toner case 7. it can.

After that, when mounting a new toner cartridge 8 on the toner case 7, first, the front edge of the flange portion 31 is inserted and locked between the locking body 27 and the toner case 7. In this state, as shown by the chain line in FIG. 2, by pulling one end of the film cover 32 protruding to the outside of the toner cartridge 8, the cover 32 is peeled and removed, and the opening 30 of the toner cartridge 8 is removed. Open up. Thereafter, when the pressing operation of the locking lever 28 is released and moved to the front, the locking portion 28b engages with the rear edge of the flange portion 31 from above, and the toner cartridge 8 is set in the mounted state on the toner case 7. Locked and held.

Further, as described above, when the opening 30 of the toner cartridge 8 is opened, the toner T in the cartridge 8 drops into the toner case 7 and is transferred into the toner case 7. At this time, since the toner T in the toner cartridge 8 is accommodated in a state in which the toner T is divided into a plurality of toner filling cases 34, even if the toner cartridge 8 tilts, the toner T remains in each toner filling case 34. It is only biased. That is, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, even if the toner T is unevenly contained in each toner filling chamber 34, the toner T is the length of the cartridge 8 when viewed as a whole as the toner cartridge 8. It is accommodated in a direction that is almost uniform. Therefore, even if the toner cartridge 8 is mounted in the toner case 7 in a tilted state without being shaken in the horizontal direction, the toner T in the cartridge 8 is biased in the case 7 as shown by the chain line in FIG. It is accommodated almost uniformly without

Therefore, the complexity of shaking the cartridge 8 before mounting the toner cartridge 8 on the toner case 7 or mounting the cartridge 8 on the toner case 7 while keeping the cartridge 8 as horizontal as possible is eliminated. Therefore, the toner T can be easily and uniformly stored in the toner case 7. Further, the work of mounting the toner cartridge 8 can be performed in a short time.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and the number of the partition plates 33 may be changed to change the number of the toner filling chambers 34 or the arrangement configuration of the partition plates 33. It is also possible to change the configuration of each part and embody it without departing from the spirit of the present invention, such as changing the.

[0028]

[Effect of device]

 As described above in detail, according to the present invention, the excellent effect that the toner can be easily and uniformly supplied without being biased into the toner case is exhibited.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an enlarged perspective view showing a toner cartridge of a developing device of an image forming apparatus embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front sectional view schematically showing a developing device.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged side cross-sectional view showing a developing device.

FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the image forming apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a front sectional view schematically showing a conventional developing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

Reference numeral 7 ... Toner case, 8 ... Toner cartridge, 26 ... Cartridge mounting opening, 30 ... Opening portion, 33 ... Partition plate as partition member, 34 ... Toner filling chamber, T ... Toner.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A toner cartridge comprising: a toner case having an opened upper surface and containing toner; A developing device of an image forming apparatus in which a plurality of toner filling chambers are formed by partitioning members in a cartridge.