JPH06348127A - Toner feeder - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide a toner feeder capable of entirely feeding the toner stored in a toner cartridge to a developing device even if no toner stirring member is stored inside. CONSTITUTION:A toner cartridge 4 is constituted of a cylindrical container 12 sealed at both ends and a gear 15 provided at one end of the cylindrical container 12, and a powder toner 13 is stored in the cylindrical container 12. An opening 11 for discharging the toner 13 stored in the cylindrical container 12 is formed on the cylinder face of the cylindrical container 12. A toner cartridge storage section 21 is constituted of a cylindrical container 22 storing the toner cartridge 4, a toner drop hole 27 formed at the bottom section of the cylinder face of the cylindrical container 22, and a drive gear 28 for rotating the toner cartridge 4 in conjunction with the recording action of an electrophotographic recording device. The toner cartridge 4 is rotatably supported in the toner cartridge storage section 21.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner supplying device for supplying a toner to a developing device such as an electrophotographic recording device by a toner cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a toner cartridge detachably attached to an electrophotographic recording apparatus has been used as a means for supplying a powder developing material such as a toner to a developing apparatus of the electrophotographic recording apparatus. . The structure of the conventional toner cartridge and the toner cartridge accommodating portion will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 5 (a) is a perspective view of a conventional toner cartridge. As shown in FIG.
01 is an outer cylinder 102 whose both ends are open, and the outer cylinder 102
The inner cylinder 103 is rotatably inscribed inside. Inner tube 103
Both ends of the inner cylinder 103 are sealed by side plates 104 and 105 having a diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the inner cylinder 103. The side plates 104 and 105 have the above diameter in order to prevent the inner cylinder 103 from coming off the outer cylinder 102. Inner cylinder 1
Toner-stirring member 106 is rotatably provided inside 03, and a part of toner-stirring member 106 is attached to side plate 10.
4 is projected to the outside from the substantially central portion and is fixed to the gear 107. Grooves 112 and 113 are provided in the side plates 104 and 105, and when the toner cartridge 101 is accommodated in the toner cartridge accommodating portion of the electrophotographic recording apparatus, which will be described later, the grooves 112 and 113 are provided in the toner cartridge. -Fits with a protrusion provided on the trough receiving part. Outer cylinder 102 and inner cylinder 10
On the cylindrical surface of 3, the openings 10 of approximately the same size are formed.
8 and 109 are provided, and when storing the toner, the outer cylinder 1
The outer casing 102 and the inner casing 103 are fixed at positions where the opening 108 of No. 02 and the opening 109 of the inner casing 103 do not coincide with each other to form a sealed container, and the toner cartridge 101 in which the toner-119 is housed is constructed. is doing.

FIG. 5B shows a toner cartridge 101.
And the toner-119 in the toner cartridge 101.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toner cartridge accommodating portion provided in the main body of the electrophotographic recording apparatus for supplying the toner to the developing device of the electrophotographic recording apparatus. As shown in the figure, the toner cartridge accommodating portion 110 includes a container 121 having a space for accommodating the toner cartridge 101, and levers 116, 117 rotatably attached to both inner ends of the container 121. Consists of. Lever-116, 117 has a toner cartridge 1
01 side plates 104, 105 provided with grooves 112, 11
Protrusions 114 and 115 are provided at positions corresponding to 3. The lever-116 has a toner cartridge 1
The drive gear 120 is provided at a position where it meshes with the No. 01 gear 107. On the bottom surface of the container 121 of the toner cartridge accommodating portion 110, there is formed a toner drop hole 122 for guiding the toner dropped from the opening of the toner cartridge 101 to the developing device of the main body of the electrophotographic recording apparatus. .

Next, the toner cartridge 101 having the above structure
The operation of supplying the toner-119 in the toner cartridge 101 to the developing device of the electrophotographic recording apparatus using the toner cartridge accommodating portion 110 will be described. First, Toner
The cartridge 101 is inserted in the toner cartridge housing portion 110 of the electrophotographic recording apparatus in the direction of arrow A, that is, the outer cylinder 102.
Of the toner cartridge accommodating portion 110 so that the opening 108 thereof overlaps the toner dropping hole 122 of the toner cartridge accommodating portion 110. When the toner cartridge 101 is inserted into the toner cartridge accommodating portion 110, the outer cylinder 102 is fixed by a rotation stopper (not shown), and the grooves 112, 11 of the side plates 104, 105 of the inner cylinder 103 are fixed.
3 is the protrusions 114 and 1 of the levers 116 and 117, respectively.
Fit with 15. The gear 107 to which the toner stirring member 106 is fixed meshes with the drive gear 120 provided on the lever-116. After completing the above insertion operation,
When 16 and 117 are rotated in the direction of arrow B by about 90 degrees, the inner cylinders 103 fixed to the side plates 104 and 105 are simultaneously rotated with the rotation of the side plates 104 and 105, and the opening 109 of the inner cylinder 103 becomes the opening 108 of the outer cylinder 102. It overlaps with the toner car
A hole is formed through which the toner-119 housed inside the trench 101 falls. Then, the toner-119 drops from the hole and is supplied to the developing device of the electrophotographic recording apparatus through the toner drop hole 122 of the toner cartridge accommodating portion 110.

By the way, in order to efficiently supply the toner accommodated in the toner cartridge to the electrophotographic recording apparatus, the opening 108 of the outer cylinder 102 and the opening 10 of the inner cylinder 103.
When 9 is increased, the performance as a sealed container during toner storage is impaired. Therefore, the opening 108 of the outer cylinder 102 and the opening 109 of the inner cylinder 103 are generally made relatively small in order to keep the toner cartridge of the toner cartridge sealed, and the opening 108 and the opening 109 are overlapped with each other. Only by itself, the toner in the toner cartridge cannot be supplied to the electrophotographic recording apparatus, and a large amount of toner may remain inside the toner cartridge. Therefore,
By rotating the toner stirring member 106 provided inside the inner cylinder 103, the toner inside the toner cartridge, especially the toner near both ends, is conveyed to the opening of the toner cartridge 101. That is, the drive gear 120 is driven by the drive source of the apparatus main body along with the recording operation of the electrophotographic recording apparatus,
The driving force is transmitted to the gear 107 and the toner-stirring member 10
When 6 rotates, the toner inside the toner cartridge 101
Reference numeral 119 denotes a toner as the toner stirring member 106 rotates.
The toner is conveyed to the opening of the cartridge 101, and the toner is supplied to the electrophotographic recording apparatus through the opening.

[0007]

However, in the toner cartridge having the above-mentioned structure, since the openings of the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are formed to be relatively small in order to enhance the sealing performance during storage of the toner, the toner cartridge is formed. -Toners housed in the cartridge-
In order to supply all of the
Since the stirring member must be rotatably provided inside the cartridge, the number of parts necessary for constructing the toner cartridge increases, and the structure of the toner cartridge becomes complicated. Further, by storing the stirring member inside the toner cartridge, there is a problem that the amount of toner that can be enclosed in the toner cartridge is limited.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention eliminates the need for a toner stirring member to be stored inside.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner supply device capable of supplying the toner contained in the toner cartridge to the developing device without remaining.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a toner supplying device for supplying a toner to a developing device of an electrophotographic recording apparatus by a toner cartridge, in which a toner is internally provided. A cylindrical container for containing,
A toner cartridge having an opening for discharging the toner contained in the cylindrical container on the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical container, the toner cartridge having a gear at one end of the cylindrical container;
The toner cartridge is rotatably supported therein, has a toner drop hole at the bottom, and is engaged with the gear of the toner cartridge with the toner cartridge accommodated therein. It is characterized by comprising a toner cartridge accommodating portion provided with a drive mechanism for rotationally driving the toner cartridge.

[0010]

When the electrophotographic recording device is operated after the toner cartridge having the above-mentioned structure is mounted in the toner cartridge accommodating part having the above-mentioned structure, the drive mechanism of the toner cartridge accommodating part is the electrophotographic recording device. Driven by a drive source (not shown) of the main body, the driving force is transmitted to a gear fixed to the toner cartridge, and the toner cartridge rotates in the toner cartridge accommodating portion about the cylindrical shaft. As described above, during the recording operation of the electrophotographic recording apparatus, the toner cartridge rotates in the toner cartridge accommodating portion, so that the toner accommodated in the toner cartridge can be stored in the toner cartridge. The toner is conveyed to the opening of the toner cartridge along with the rotation, and when the opening overlaps with the toner dropping hole at the bottom of the cylindrical surface of the toner cartridge accommodating portion, the toner dropping hole is formed.
Is smoothly supplied from the opening to the developing device through the toner drop hole.

[0011]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. Elements common to the drawings are represented by the same symbols. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of an electrophotographic recording apparatus using the toner supply device of the present invention. In FIG. 2, the electrophotographic recording apparatus 1 includes a developing device 3 for visualizing an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 2 by a toner, and a developing device 3 located above the developing device 3 and a toner for the developing device 3. -Toner supplying
A supply device 30 is provided. The toner supply device 30 includes a toner cartridge 4 and a toner cartridge housing portion 21 for housing the toner cartridge 4.

The toner cartridge and the toner cartridge accommodating portion of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 and 3. FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of a toner cartridge accommodating portion. FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a state in which the toner cartridge is mounted in the toner cartridge accommodating portion.

In FIG. 1 (a), the toner cartridge 4 comprises a cylindrical container 12 whose both ends are sealed and a cylindrical container 12
The toner container 13 is made up of a gear 15 provided at one end of the cylindrical container 12, and a powder toner 13 is housed inside the cylindrical container 12. Cylindrical container 12
An opening 11 for discharging the toner 13 contained in the cylindrical container 12 is formed on the cylindrical surface of the.
Also, on the cylindrical shaft at both ends of the toner cartridge 4,
The toner cartridge 4 is inserted into the toner cartridge accommodating portion 21.
Recesses 16 and 17 for rotatably supporting the inside are formed. The recesses 16 and 17 engage with support projections of the toner cartridge accommodating portion 21 which will be described later. When the toner cartridge 4 is stored or transported, the opening 11 of the cylindrical container 12 is sealed by a sealing member 14 such as a seal film to form a hermetically sealed container.

In FIG. 1B, a toner cartridge accommodating portion 21 is a cylindrical container 22 for accommodating the toner cartridge 4, and a toner drop hole formed at the bottom of the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical container 22. 27 and a drive gear 2 for rotating the toner cartridge 4 with the recording operation of the electrophotographic recording apparatus.
It is composed of 8. The cylindrical container 22 has a volume that covers the entire toner cartridge 4 with an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the toner cartridge 4 having the above-described configuration, and is used for inserting the toner cartridge 4. It is composed of an opening 23 provided at one end of the cylindrical container 22 and an openable / closable lid 24 provided at the opening 23. The toner cartridge 4 is inserted into the cylindrical container 22, and the innermost side surface of the cylindrical container 22, that is, the innermost side surface of the cylindrical container 22 with which the toner cartridge 4 abuts, is centered on the innermost side of the toner container. Car
A support protrusion 25 for pivotally supporting the trough 4 is formed, and the support protrusion 25 engages with the recess 16 on the gear side of the toner cartridge 4. Similarly, a support protrusion 26 is formed at the center of the inside of the lid 24 that closes the opening 23 of the toner cartridge accommodating portion 21, and the support protrusion 2 is formed when the lid 24 is closed.
6 engages with a recess 17 on the side surface side of the toner cartridge 4. The toner drop hole 27 is formed downward from the bottom of the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical container 22 to the developing device 3 located below the toner cartridge accommodating portion 21.
The toner drop hole 27 guides the toner dropped from the opening 11 of the toner cartridge 4 to the developing device 3. Further, there is a notch 29 at the end of the bottom of the cylindrical surface of the cylindrical container 22, and the drive gear 28 is in a state where a part of the tooth surface is seen through the notch 29, as shown in FIG. It is pivotally supported on the side wall of the cartridge housing portion 21.

Next, using the toner cartridge 4 and the toner cartridge accommodating portion 21 having the above-mentioned structure, the toner 13 accommodated in the toner cartridge 4 is developed in the electrophotographic recording apparatus 1. The operation of supplying the device 3 will be described.

First, in order to mount the toner cartridge 4 in the toner cartridge accommodating portion 21 of the electrophotographic recording apparatus 1, the sealing member 14 shown in FIG.
As shown in (b), the lid 24 of the toner cartridge accommodating portion 21 is opened, and the toner cartridge 4 is inserted through the opening 23 in the direction of arrow C so that the toner cartridge 4 as a whole is toner-loaded.
Insert the cartridge container 21 into the cylindrical container 22 until it is housed. Then, when the lid 24 is closed, the toner car
The support protrusions 25 and 26 of the trough accommodating portion 21 are toner
It engages with the recesses 16, 17 of the tredge 4. At this time, as shown in FIG. 3, the heights of the protrusions 25 and 26 of the toner cartridge accommodating portion 21 are the same as those of the recess 16 of the toner cartridge 4.
Since it is formed slightly higher than the depth of 17, the protrusion 2
The vertices of 5 and 26 are in contact with the central portions of the concave portions 16 and 17 at one point. That is, the toner cartridge 4 and the toner cartridge accommodating portion 21 have the protrusion 25, the recess 16, and the protrusion 2.
6 and the central portion of the concave portion 17 are in contact with each other.
The cartridge 4 is rotatably supported in the toner cartridge accommodating portion 21 without being affected by contact friction. Also, the toner
The gear 15 of the cartridge 4 is provided when the toner cartridge 4 is mounted in the toner cartridge accommodating portion 21.
It meshes with the drive gear 28 of the cartridge housing 21.

When the electrophotographic recording apparatus is operated after the above toner cartridge mounting operation is completed, the drive gear 28 is driven by a drive source (not shown) of the main body of the electrophotographic recording apparatus, and the driving force thereof is applied to the toner. -Transmitted to the gear 15 fixed to the ridge 4, the toner cartridge ridge 4 rotates about the cylindrical axis. As described above, during the recording operation of the electrophotographic recording apparatus, the toner cartridge 4 rotates in the toner cartridge housing portion 21, so that the toner 13 housed in the toner cartridge 4 is replaced by the toner cartridge 4. As the cartridge 4 rotates, it is conveyed to the opening 11 of the toner cartridge 4 and the opening 11
Is formed so as to overlap with the toner drop hole 27 of the toner cartridge receiving portion 21 and the hole through which the toner 13 falls is formed.
13 is smoothly supplied from the opening 11 to the developing device 3 via the toner drop hole 27.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a toner cartridge according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The basic construction of the toner cartridge of the second embodiment is the same as that of the toner cartridge of the first embodiment. That is, in FIG. 4, the toner cartridge 4 comprises a cylindrical container 12 whose both ends are hermetically sealed, and a gear 15 provided at one end of the cylindrical container 12, and the cylindrical container 12 has a cylindrical surface on which the cylindrical container 12 is mounted. An opening 11 for discharging the toner stored inside is formed. In the second embodiment, the first
(EN) A toner cartridge having further improved workability for exchanging the toner cartridge of the embodiment and toner supply capability. The toner cartridge housing portion of the second embodiment is shown in FIG.
This is similar to the toner cartridge accommodating portion of the first embodiment shown in (b). In the first embodiment, during the recording operation of the electrophotographic recording apparatus, the toner stored in the toner cartridge is supplied to the developing device while the toner cartridge rotates in the toner cartridge storage portion. At this time, the toner is scattered from the opening of the toner cartridge, and the toner adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical container and the outer peripheral surface of the toner cartridge in the toner cartridge accommodating portion. Although a small amount of toner adheres, when the toner cartridge is replaced, the toner adheres to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical container of the toner cartridge accommodating portion and the outer peripheral surface of the toner cartridge. When the toner cartridge is pulled out while the toner cartridge is attached, the attached toner may stain the operator's hand, clothes, etc., or the attached toner may spill outside and stain the device body. . Therefore, in the toner cartridge 4 of the second embodiment, elastic projection members 31a, 31b, 31c such as sponge are attached around the opening 11 of the cylindrical container 12 as shown in FIG. Further, the protrusion members 31d and 31e, which are continuous with the protrusion members 31b and 31c, spread in a V-shape in the D direction, that is, with respect to the rotation direction of the toner cartridge 4 during the recording operation, and the toner cartridge is formed. It is formed to a position almost equal to the width of the trench 4. The upper surface of the projecting member 31 is the cylindrical container 22 of the toner cartridge housing portion 21 when the toner cartridge 4 is mounted in the toner cartridge housing portion 21 shown in FIG. The inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical container 22 is wiped with the rotation of the toner cartridge 4 in contact with the inner peripheral surface, and the scattered toner adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the container is removed from the toner container accommodating portion 21. The toner is guided to the drop hole 27.

In the first embodiment, during the recording operation of the electrophotographic recording apparatus, the toner is accommodated inside the toner cartridge while rotating the toner cartridge in the toner cartridge accommodating portion. Since the toner is supplied from the opening of the toner cartridge, the toner in the toner cartridge is conveyed to the opening and supplied to the developing device as the toner cartridge rotates. However, the toner tends to remain near both ends inside the cylindrical container of the toner cartridge. Therefore, on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical container 12 of the toner cartridge 4 of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG.
2, 33 are continuously provided so as to form a spiral. Therefore, when the toner cartridge 4 is rotated in the direction of the arrow D during the toner supplying operation, the toner near both ends of the toner cartridge 4 is projected by the rotation of the toner cartridge 4.
3 is conveyed to the opening 11 along the side surface.

As described above, according to the toner cartridge of the second embodiment, as the toner cartridge rotates during the recording operation of the electrophotographic recording apparatus, the inner peripheral surface of the toner cartridge accommodating portion is rotated. Since the scattered toner adhering to the toner is wiped off and the toner, which tends to remain near the both ends inside the toner cartridge, is conveyed at the same time, the toner cartridge is carried out more than the toner cartridge in the first embodiment. It is easy to replace and the toner supply efficiency is improved.

[0021]

As described in detail above, according to the present invention, it is not necessary to mount a stirring member for stirring the toner inside the toner cartridge as a separate component, and the toner supply can be performed. An inexpensive toner with a simple structure that does not impair the
A cartridge can be realized. Further, since it is not necessary to store the stirring member inside the toner cartridge, the amount of toner which can be enclosed in the toner cartridge is increased.

Further, the toner car of the second embodiment of the present invention.
If a trench is used, it is possible to supply all the toner that tends to remain near both ends inside the toner cartridge,
The toner supply efficiency can be improved. Further, since the toner adhering to the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical container of the toner cartridge accommodating portion is also cleaned, when the toner cartridge is replaced, there is a concern that the adhering toner may stain the surroundings of the device. Also less.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toner cartridge and a toner cartridge accommodating portion of a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of an electrophotographic recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an explanatory view showing a mounted state of the toner cartridge of the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a toner cartridge according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a conventional toner cartridge and a toner cartridge accommodating portion.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Developing Device 4 Toner Cartridge 11 Opening 15 Gear 21 Toner Cartridge Accommodating Section 27 Toner Drop Hole 28 Drive Gear 30 Toner Supplying Device

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A toner supply device for supplying a toner to a developing device of an electrophotographic recording device by a toner cartridge, which is a cylindrical container for accommodating the toner therein, wherein the cylindrical container is a cylinder. A toner cartridge having an opening on its surface for discharging the toner contained in the cylindrical container, and a gear provided at one end of the cylindrical container, and the toner cartridge inside. The toner cartridge is rotatably rotatably supported, has a toner drop hole in the bottom portion thereof, and is engaged with the gear of the toner cartridge while accommodating the toner cartridge, so that the toner cartridge is locked. A toner supply device for an electrophotographic recording apparatus, comprising a toner cartridge accommodating portion having a drive mechanism for rotational driving. 2. An elastic projection member is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the toner cartridge in a V-shape in a continuous manner from the opening of the toner cartridge with respect to the rotation direction of the toner cartridge. , When the toner cartridge is mounted in the toner cartridge accommodating portion, the upper surface of the protruding member contacts the inner peripheral surface of the toner cartridge accommodating portion. The toner supply device according to claim 1. 3. A protrusion member having a predetermined height is provided in a spiral shape on the inner peripheral surface of the toner cartridge from the opening of the toner cartridge to both ends thereof. The toner supply device according to claim 1.