JPH0659574A - Toner supplying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a toner cartridge from being erroneously loaded in the toner supplying device of an image forming device. CONSTITUTION:The toner supplying device 5 is turnably pivotally supported in the image forming device 18, and the toner cartridge is exchanged by being turned by 90 deg. and separated from a developing device. A detection part 32 provided with a projection part 32a and a U-shaped arm 32b engaging with the toner cartridge is slidingly attached to the upper cover of the device 5. When the toner cartridge is loaded at a fixed position, the projection part 32a gets into the recessed part 18c of the image forming device 18 and normally restored, However, when it is erroneously loaded, the projection part 32a abuts on a flat part 18b, so that it is not connected to the developing device and projects further than the device 18, whereby the device 18 is not actuated.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to measures for preventing erroneous loading of a toner cartridge in a toner replenishing device provided in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or an image scanner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or an image scanner includes a platen on which a document is placed, a document irradiation lamp reciprocating below the platen, a reflection mirror, a fixed projection lens and a reflection mirror. A scanning optical system, a photosensitive drum that is endlessly rotated by a predetermined potential charged by a band electrode, and toner on the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum surface by the scanning optical system. A developing device for applying and developing, a transfer pole for transferring a toner image onto a recording paper surface which is a transfer material conveyed below the surface of the photosensitive drum, a separation electrode and a removing electrode, and the recording paper. A fixing device for fixing the toner image transferred on the surface, and a cleaning device for removing the toner and paper dust remaining on the surface of the photoconductor after the transfer.

Then, desired toner images are successively recorded on the surface of the recording paper which is intermittently conveyed along a predetermined conveying path.

When copying is repeatedly performed by the image forming apparatus, the toner in the developing device is gradually consumed. Therefore, toner is replenished from the toner replenishing device as necessary to keep the toner density in the developing device constant and always good. It develops various toner images.

[0005]

The toner supplied from the toner cartridge into the toner replenishing device is agitated and conveyed by a stirring plate rotating in the device, and an appropriate amount of toner drops into the successive developing device to be replenished. I am trying to do it. However, if the toner cartridge containing the toner for replenishment is not properly installed in the predetermined position of the toner replenishing device, the toner may be scattered in the image forming apparatus or the replenishment of the toner may become unstable and the toner may be developed. The toner image is adversely affected.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to solve the above problems and to provide a toner replenishing device which can always reliably mount a toner cartridge at a predetermined position without being erroneously mounted in the toner replenishing device. .

[0007]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION To this end, in a toner replenishing device that is rotatably installed in an image forming apparatus and performs a toner replenishing operation at a rotating position where it is separated from a developing device, the toner replenishing device includes a toner cartridge. Is provided with a detection member having a detection unit capable of changing the position from the first position when the toner cartridge is not loaded to the second position when the toner cartridge is completely loaded, and the detection unit that completes the loading of the toner cartridge in the toner replenishing device. Is moved to the second position, the toner replenishing device is returned to the predetermined position of the image forming apparatus.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention is a top view showing the detection state of a detection member of FIG. 1, a top view showing the configuration of the detection member provided in the toner replenishing device of FIG. 2, and the configuration of the toner replenishing device of FIG. 4 and a side sectional view showing the configuration of the image forming apparatus in FIG. However, the present invention is not limited to this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 4, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus 18 is provided.
A platen glass P for placing a document M is provided on the upper surface of the main body 1, and a scanning optical system 2 is provided below the platen glass P in the main body 1. The scanning optical system 2 includes a reciprocating document irradiation lamp 2a, a first mirror 2b, second and third mirrors 2c forming a V shape, and a fixed lens 2.
d and the fourth mirror 2e. A photoconductor drum 3 is rotatably provided in the center of the inside of the main body 1 in the direction of the arrow, and in the periphery thereof, a belt electrode 4 for uniformly charging the photoconductor 3a along the rotation direction and a toner replenishing device. 5, a developing device 6 in which the toner is replenished with toner and a developing sleeve 6a is incorporated, a transfer electrode 7, a separation electrode 8, a charge eliminating electrode 9, and a cleaning device 10 are sequentially arranged. Paper cassette 11,1
Two types of recording papers of different sizes are housed in 1'and set in the main body 1. 12 is a paper cassette 11
Is a first paper feed roller that feeds the recording paper stored in to a standby position in front of the second paper feed roller 13, and is a roller 12a that is rotated via a belt to prevent double feeding of the recording paper.
12a and a stop roller (also referred to as a separating roller) 12b. 13 is an appropriate timing so that the recording paper fed by the first paper feed roller 12 is temporarily stopped at the standby position, and then the leading edge of the visible image on the photoconductor 3a and the leading edge of the recording paper are aligned at the transfer position. The second paper feed roller 14 that feeds paper toward the transfer position again, and 14 is a guide plate for guiding the recording paper fed by the first paper feed roller 12 to the position of the second paper feed roller 13, It is opened and closed by operating a lever (not shown) so that the jammed paper can be taken out by inserting a hand. Reference numeral 15 is a conveying device that conveys the recording paper after transfer to a fixing position, and the fixing device 16 is a heating roller.
16a and pressure roller 16b. Reference numeral 17 denotes a paper discharge roller that discharges the recording paper after fixing to the outside of the main body.

When the copy button is operated in the above apparatus, the original M on the platen glass P is exposed and scanned by the scanning optical system 2, and an electrostatic latent image of the original M is formed on the photoconductor 3a of the photoconductor drum 3. It This electrostatic latent image is made into a visible image by the developing device 6, and this visible image is the paper feeding cassette of the main body 1.
Transfer electrode 7 is applied to the recording paper fed from either 11 or 11 '.
Transcribed by After transfer, the recording paper is separated from the photoconductor 3a by the separation electrode 8 and is fixed by the conveying device 15 to the fixing device 16a.
The sheet is conveyed to the sheet, is fixed there, and is ejected by the sheet ejection roller 17. In this way, desired toner images are successively recorded on the recording paper surface.

When the image forming apparatus 18 repeats copying, the toner in the developing device 6 is gradually consumed. Therefore, toner is replenished from the toner replenishing device 5 as necessary to keep the toner density of the developing device 6 constant. A good toner image is always developed.

The measures for preventing the toner cartridge from being erroneously loaded in the toner replenishing device of the present invention are configured as follows.

As shown in FIG. 3, the toner replenishing device 5 includes a housing 5a for storing toner, a stirring shaft 22 rotatably supported on both side surfaces of the housing 5a, and a stirring member attached to the stirring shaft 22. The stirring plate 20 and the PET sheet 21 which is also a stirring member attached to the upper surface of the stirring plate 20, and the stirring shaft 22 are diagonally lower left and rotatably supported on both side surfaces of the casing 5a in parallel with the stirring shaft 22. And a detection member 32 that engages when the toner cartridge 35 is loaded. The casing 5a is formed in a box shape with its periphery being sealed, and the upper portion 30a has a loading portion 30b on which the toner cartridge 35 is loaded, and the inside of the developing device 6 below the right end portion of the transport screw 23. Replenishment port for dropping toner to 24
Is provided, and the lower surface of the housing 5a serves as a connecting portion that connects to the developing device 6 so that the developing device 6 can be contacted and separated.

To replenish toner to the toner replenishing device 5, for example, a front door (not shown) of the image forming device 18 is opened, and then the toner replenishing device 5 is separated from the developing device 6 by 90 °.
The toner cartridge 35 is rotated and is replaced with a new toner cartridge 35 outside the image forming apparatus 18. Top lid 30 as shown
Is a rectangular molding member made of a synthetic resin material, and a cartridge loading portion 30b, which is formed in a U-shape to fit the leg portion 35b of the toner cartridge 35 on the upper surface portion 30a, has a predetermined width (paper surface) corresponding to the leg portion 35b. (Right and left direction) and face each other and are erected parallel to each other. Then, as shown in the figure, the leg portion of the toner cartridge 35 is attached to the U-shaped cartridge loading portion 30b.
35b is fitted and attached.
An upper lid pulling lid 31 is provided slidably in the front-back direction (vertical direction to the paper surface) in the width direction below the cartridge loading portion 30b of the upper lid 30, and when the toner cartridge 35 is loaded on the upper lid 30, By sliding the pulling lid 31 for the upper lid engaging with the pulling lid 36 to the front side and pulling it out, the pulling lid 36 for the cartridge also moves in the same direction to open the square hole 30d for the upper lid and the square hole 35 for the cartridge.
d is also opened so that the toner in the toner cartridge 35 is replenished in the toner replenishing device 5. Therefore, when the toner cartridge 35 is removed from the cartridge loading portion 30b, the square holes 30d and 35d are closed by the respective pulling lids 31 and 36 and then removed.

When the upper lid 30 has the holes 30e formed on both side surfaces 30c thereof fitted into the projections 5b provided on the upper side surfaces of the housing 5a and the upper lid square hole 30d is closed, the housing of the toner replenishing device 5 is closed. The periphery of 5a is integrally assembled in a sealed state.

As shown in FIG. 2, the leg portion 35b of the toner cartridge 35 is inserted upward along the loading portion 30b from the cartridge attaching / detaching portion 30h located below the loading portion 30b of the upper lid 30, and the upper end portion The toner cartridge 35 is positioned and loaded at a predetermined position by contacting the stopper 30f. The upper lid pulling lid 31 is slid downward by a handle (not shown) to open the upper lid square hole 30d, and the cartridge pulling lid 36 is also slid in the same direction to open the cartridge square hole 35d to open the toner cartridge. The toner in 35 is replenished in the toner replenishing device 5.

The toner cartridge 35 is loaded in the loading portion 30b.
1 to FIG. 3 in order to prevent the toner replenishing device 5 from returning to the proper positions of the developing device 6 and the image forming device 18 and prevent the toner cartridge 35 from being erroneously loaded unless the toner replenishing device 5 is loaded in the predetermined position. As shown in, the protrusion that is the detector
The detection member 32 having 32a is shown in FIG.
It is provided on the left side of a. Note that FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a state in which the image forming apparatus 18 is returned to the normal position by rotating 90 degrees clockwise around the support shaft 40 of the toner replenishing device 5 with respect to FIG. Therefore, the position of the protrusion 32 a of the detection member 32 faces the inside of the image forming apparatus 18. The detection member 32 is, for example, a plate-shaped molded member made of a synthetic resin material, and has a length which is slidably fitted in two bosses 34 on the left side of the upper surface 30a of the upper lid 30 as shown in FIG. The long hole 32c having a hole 32c
A protrusion 32a is provided substantially in the center of the left side detection member 32. An arm 32b having a U-shape is provided at the upper end of the right side detection member 32 of the slot 32c.
Then, elongated holes 32c are formed in two bosses 34 on the upper surface 30a of the upper lid 30.
When the detection member 32 is attached by fitting the above, the U-shaped tip portion 32d of the arm 32b overlaps and enters the loading portion 30b and engages with the upper end surface 35c of the leg portion 35b of the toner cartridge 35. Has become. And detection member
A coil spring 33, one end of which is attached to the upper surface portion 30a, is applied to the lower end portion of 32, and the detection member 32 is constantly urged downward by the coil spring 33 with the upper end surface of the slot 32c as a stopper. ing. Therefore, the tip 32 of the detection member 32
As described above, d enters a predetermined position in the loading portion 30b, and the tip of the tip portion 32d and the stopper 30 of the loading portion 30b.
The length with respect to f, that is, the overlap amount L is a predetermined operation stroke of the detection member 32. As shown in FIG. 1, the frame 18a of the image forming apparatus 18 is provided with a flat portion 18b as shown in the figure and a recess 18c at a predetermined position facing the right side (in the direction of the hinge 40) protrusion 32a. . Then, the toner cartridge 35 is loaded in a predetermined position of the loading portion 30b of the upper lid 30, and the detection member 32 is overlapped by the overlap amount L.
_The protrusion 32a is moved along with the operation stroke corresponding to ₁ , and the toner replenishing device 5 is moved through the support shaft 40.
The image forming apparatus is rotated 90 ° clockwise as shown in FIG.
When returning to the home position inside 18, the protrusion 32a enters into the recess 18c and is connected to the developing device 6, and the front door of the image forming apparatus 18 is closed without any trouble and the driving of the apparatus 18 is started.

Further, if the toner cartridge 35 is not loaded at a predetermined position due to, for example, insufficient insertion into the loading portion 30b, the detection member 32 does not move to a predetermined position due to insufficient stroke, and therefore the above-mentioned operation is performed. When the toner replenishing device 5 is returned to the home position as described above, the protrusion 32a having the short stroke indicated by the chain line hits the flat portion 18b of the frame 18a so as not to return to the normal position. Therefore, the toner replenishing device 5 projects to the front side of the image forming apparatus 18 and the front door does not close, so that the user immediately recognizes that the toner cartridge 35 is not properly loaded. With such an extremely simple structure, it is possible to detect whether or not the toner cartridge 35 is properly loaded in the toner replenishing device 5, so that the toner replenishing device 5 is always returned to the normal home position and the developing device 6 is properly installed. Connected with. The shapes and materials of the detection member 32, the boss 34, the support shaft 40, etc. are set to have an appropriate strength enough to withstand the force applied when the toner cartridge 35 is erroneously loaded.

The erroneous loading preventing means by the mechanical method of the protrusion 32a of the detecting member 32 and the flat portion 18b or the recess 18c of the frame 18a of the image forming apparatus 18 has been described above, but the invention is not limited to this and the illustration is omitted. An actuator, for example, is provided at a position corresponding to the concave portion 18c, and the actuator is pressed and moved only when the protrusion 32a is at a proper position to move the image forming apparatus 18.
An electrical method of turning on the switch of the driving source may be used. In this method, for example, when the protrusion 32a is not in the proper position due to insufficient loading of the toner cartridge 35, it does not come into contact with the actuator, so the drive source switch is turned off.
As it is, the image forming apparatus 18 does not operate and is displayed on the display panel, and a warning is given, so that the user can immediately determine that the erroneous loading has occurred.

[0020]

According to the present invention, since the toner replenishing device is provided with the detection member for detecting the erroneous loading of the toner cartridge, the user can very easily determine whether or not the toner cartridge is erroneously loaded. The toner cartridge has come to be loaded in a predetermined position.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a top view showing a detection state of a detection member according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a top view showing the configuration and arrangement of the detection member according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing the configuration of a toner replenishing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

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

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 photoconductor drum 5 toner replenishing device 5a housing 6 developing device 18 image forming device 18b flat part 18c recess 30 top lid 30b loading part 32 detecting member 32a protrusion 32b arm 32c long hole 32d arm tip 34 boss 35 toner cartridge 35b leg Department

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A toner replenishing device that is rotatably installed in an image forming apparatus and that replenishes toner at a rotational position where the toner cartridge is not loaded in the toner replenishing device. A detection member having a detection unit capable of changing the position from the position 2 to the second position when the toner cartridge is completely loaded is provided to the toner replenishing device to complete the loading of the toner cartridge, and the detection unit moves to the second position. A toner replenishing device characterized in that the toner replenishing device is returned to a predetermined position of the image forming apparatus only when the above condition is met.