JPH07113796B2 - Toner cartridge in toner supply device of image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner supply device provided with a disposable cartridge for storing toner in order to supply toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus, and more particularly to a spiral agitator. The present invention relates to a toner supply device including a disposable cartridge having the same.

[Prior Art] In a copying machine, conventionally, as a toner supply device for supplying this toner to a developing device, a toner box is provided in the copying machine body, and the toner box conveys and supplies the developing device to the developing device by an auger or the like. It is supposed to do.
When the toner in the toner box is exhausted, the toner box is pulled out to the toner replenishing position to replenish the toner in the spare toner bottle to the toner box. This toner supply is difficult for the user because the type of toner varies depending on the model of the copying machine, and is usually performed by a service person to prevent erroneous toner supply.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, if the service person replenishes the toner in this way, the user has to contact the service person each time the toner runs out, which is extremely troublesome. Moreover, the toner is not always replenished immediately even if contacted by a service person or the like, which not only takes time, but also makes almost no copying during that time, which makes it impossible to copy efficiently.

Further, there is a problem that the toner may be spilled on the floor when the toner is replenished, or clothes or the like may be soiled.
To deal with this problem, a cartridge filled with toner is used instead of the toner bottle.When this toner is replenished, the cartridge is mounted in the toner box, and then the cap of the cartridge is removed to replenish the toner. It has been proposed that the cartridge be removed when the process ends. According to the toner replenishment method using this cartridge, the toner is not spilled, and the spilled toner does not stain clothes or the like.

However, in this toner replenishment method using a cartridge, three operations, that is, a cartridge mounting operation, a toner replenishing operation, and a cartridge detaching operation have to be performed, and the operation is troublesome. Moreover, even with this replenishment method, the service person must perform the replenishment work,
After all, the above-mentioned problems are still unsolved.

As described above, the workability of toner replenishment is not good in any of the conventional toner replenishment methods.

Therefore, the present applicant previously proposed a disposable toner cartridge in which the toner cartridge is used while being mounted in the copying machine, and when the toner in the toner cartridge is used up, the toner cartridge is replaced with a new toner cartridge. Wishhei 2-14451). This toner cartridge solves the above problems.

By the way, if the toner is left in a constant state for a long time, for example, if a copying operation is not performed by a copying machine for a certain period of time, the toner in the toner cartridge may solidify and cause blocking.

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object thereof is to more effectively prevent toner blocking at a toner supply port of a toner cartridge in which toner blocking easily occurs, and It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner cartridge in a toner supply device of an image forming apparatus capable of preventing the rotation of the spiral agitator from being locked.

[Means for Solving the Problem and Its Action] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the toner supply device in the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 is detachably attached to the toner supply device of the image forming apparatus. In addition, a spiral agitator is provided in the cylindrical body of the toner cartridge used in the mounted state, and a toner supply port is provided only on one end side of the cylindrical body. The spiral agitator is set so that it is conveyed in the longitudinal direction of the spiral agitator from the end side to the toner replenishing port, and the end portion on the toner replenishing port side is set as a free end, and the rotational driving force from the driving means is applied to the driving force transmission shaft. Is provided on the same side as the toner supply port.

Therefore, when the spiral agitator is rotationally driven, the toner is axially sent from the other end side of the cylindrical main body to the toner replenishing port, and the toner flows to prevent the toner blocking. In that case, if the end of the spiral agitator on the toner supply port side is fixed and supported by the cylindrical body (only rotation is possible), the toner near the toner supply port tends to cause blocking, but the toner supply port side of the spiral agitator side By making the end portion a free end, toner blocking is more effectively prevented. Further, since the driving force transmitting section is provided on the same side as the toner replenishing port, the influence of the joint state between the driving force transmitting section and the driving means on the position of the toner replenishing port when setting the toner cartridge is reduced.

Further, since the rotational driving force from the driving means is transmitted to the side opposite to the toner replenishing port side end of the spiral agitator via the driving force transmitting shaft, the toner is sent to the toner replenishing port. When the spiral agitator is rotationally driven and a load is applied to a part of the spiral agitator by toner or the like, the diameter of the spiral agitator is reduced. As a result, the spiral agitator does not hit the inner wall of the tubular body and lock,
You will be able to dispense well. As a result, the toner is stably and surely replenished, and stable and good image quality can be obtained.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the driving force transmission shaft is provided so as to penetrate through the spiral agitator, and the end portion of the driving force transmission shaft opposite to the driving force transmission portion is provided with a toner replenishing port of the spiral agitator. It is integrally connected to the end on the opposite side. Therefore, similarly to the first aspect of the invention, even if a part of the spiral agitator is loaded with toner or the like, the spiral agitator does not lock and good dispensing is performed. Moreover, by integrally forming the driving force transmission shaft and the spiral agitator, the number of parts can be reduced, and the manufacturing is easy and the cost is reduced.

Further, according to the third aspect of the present invention, a toner crushing member is provided in the vicinity of the toner replenishing port, and the toner crushing member is formed by the spiral agitator or the driving force transmitting shaft itself. Therefore, the blocking of the toner in the vicinity of the toner supply port where the toner is likely to be blocked can be effectively prevented, and stable dispensing can be performed. Further, when the spiral agitator or the driving force transmission shaft is rotationally driven, the toner disintegration member operates reliably, and the operation of the toner disintegration member surely prevents the blocking of the toner and ensures stable dispensing. In addition, the number of parts is reduced, manufacturing is easy, and cost is reduced.

Further, in the invention of claim 4, the toner disintegrating member is rotatable in the up-down direction about an axis in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the spiral agitator, and its free end is downstream of the rotating shaft end side in the toner flow direction. The spiral agitator so that it can be moved toward and away from the
The toner scraping member is constantly biased toward the spiral agitator by a biasing means such as a spring. Therefore, the blocking of the toner in the vicinity of the toner supply port where the toner is likely to be blocked can be effectively prevented, and stable dispensing can be performed. In that case,
Due to the urging force of the urging means, the toner scraping member surely prevents the toner blocking. Further, since the free end of the toner scraping member faces the downstream side in the toner flow direction from the rotation shaft end side, the toner can flow smoothly even if the toner scraping member is provided, and the toner dispensing can be performed stably. Be seen. Further, since the spiral agitator has a spiral shape and the contact point between the spiral agitator and the toner scraping member moves along the longitudinal direction of the spiral agitator as the spiral agitator rotates, the toner scraping relative to the rotation amount of the spiral agitator The amount of rotation of the member is relatively small, and when the spiral agitator rotates, the toner scraping member slowly rotates. Therefore, the force of the spiral agitator that rotates the toner scraping member does not momentarily increase, and there is no possibility of uneven rotation of the spiral agitator.Therefore, even if a toner scraping member is provided, stirring and carrying of toner is smooth. To be done.

[Examples] Examples of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a color copying machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

As shown in FIG. 1, the color copying machine 1 is provided with a main body 2, a platen 3 provided on the upper surface side of the main body 2, on which a document (not shown) is placed, and below the platen 3.
An image information reading unit 4 that reads image information of a document, an image forming apparatus 5 that receives a signal from the image information reading unit 4 to form a predetermined image, and an image formed on the image forming apparatus 5 as a transfer medium. Transfer unit 7 for transferring to sheet 6 that is a sheet, sheet supply unit 8 for feeding and conveying sheet 6, and sheet conveying unit 9
It consists of and.

The image forming apparatus 5 includes a photosensitive drum 51 and the photosensitive drum 51.
Developing means 52 and second developing means disposed adjacent to
It has 53.

The first developing means 52 has a two-component developer for color, and the second developing means 53 is a developing device having a two-component black developer, and is a magnetic brush developing method of FX microtoning system. To develop the second latent image.

Both of the developing means 52, 53 are moved in a direction in which the developing means 52, 53 are brought into contact with and separated from the photosensitive drum 51 by a retract mechanism arranged corresponding to each of them.

Next, the second developing means 53 provided with the toner cartridge in the toner supply device of this embodiment will be described in more detail.

As shown in FIG. 2, the second developing means 53 develops the second latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 51 by the magnetic brush developing method of FX microtoning system, and roughly,
A developing roll 1002 in which a part of the outer peripheral surface is exposed to the outside of the housing 1001 through an opening provided at one end in the housing 1001.
(Developer carrying member), a developer stirring means 1003 arranged in the housing 1001 on the back side of the developing roll 1002, and a housing 1001 top plate above the developing roll 1002,
And a trimmer plate 1004 (trimmer) that regulates the height of the magnetic brush of the developer formed on the developing roll 1002.

Tracking rolls (not shown) are rotatably provided on the outer sides of both ends of the developing roll 1002. When the tracking roll contacts the photosensitive drum 51, the developing roll 1002 is rotated.
The gap between 1002 and the photosensitive drum 51 is maintained.

On the other hand, the stirring means 1003 is provided with a first auger 1007 and a second auger 1008 which are arranged so as to be axially aligned with the developing roll 1002.
And housing to separate these two augers
It is composed of a partition plate 1009 erected on 1001. The rotation directions of the first auger 1007 and the second auger 1008 are determined so that the developer transport directions are opposite to each other. Further, at both ends of the partition plate 1009, a region where the first auger 1007 is arranged (hereinafter referred to as the first stirring passage 1010) and a region where the second auger 1008 is arranged (hereinafter referred to as the second stirring passage 1011) are provided. An opening that communicates with the first agitation path is provided.
The developer is circulated in the order of 1010 → second stirring path 1011 → first stirring path 1010.

Further, between the developing roll 1002 and the stirring means 1003, a paddle wheel 1012 having a plurality of blades parallel to the axial direction is provided. With the rotation of this paddle wheel 1012,
The developer separated from the developing roll 1002 is forcibly conveyed to the stirring means 1003, and the developers mixed and stirred by the stirring means 1003 are continuously supplied to the developing roll 1002.

The toner supply device 1020 of the present invention is disposed above the first auger 1007 in the housing 1001. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the toner supply device 1020 includes a toner cartridge 1021 in which toner is filled and stored,
A reserve tank 1022 is provided below the toner cartridge 1021.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) to 5 (d), the cartridge
1021 is a cylindrical case body 102 including a cylindrical portion 1023a formed of paper and both side wall portions 1023b formed of resin.
3, spiral agitator 1024 formed by winding a metal wire into a coil and this spiral agitator
It is composed of a coupling 1025 to which 1024 are connected. When the cylindrical portion 1023a is formed of paper, the paper can be freely cut into a predetermined length, so that simply changing the length of the cylindrical portion 1023a can easily correspond to various models. Become. Moreover, since paper is inexpensive, the cartridge 1021 can be formed extremely inexpensively.

The toner supply port 10 for supplying toner to the reserve tank 1022 is provided in the cylindrical portion 1023a on one end side of the case body 1023.
23c is provided. The toner supply port 1023c is one of the toner storage portions of the tank portion 1030 of the reserve tank 1022 described later.
It is designed to open to 1030a.

The spiral agitator 1024 is the end 10 on the toner supply port side.
24a is a free end, while an end 1024b on the side opposite to the toner supply port side is rotatably supported on the inner peripheral surface of the side wall 1023b. A driving force transmission shaft 1024c is integrally connected to the end portion 1024b on the side opposite to the toner supply port side, and the driving force transmission shaft 1024c is directed toward the toner supply port 1023c along the rotation center of the spiral agitator 1024. A coupling that extends and is rotatably attached to the center of the right side wall portion 1023b and that constitutes the driving force transmission portion of the present invention.
Its end is connected to 1025. This driving force transmission shaft 10
A toner crushing portion 1024d having a triangular protrusion shape is formed at a portion of the 24c facing the toner supply port 1024d. In this way, spiral agitator 1024 is cantilevered.

As shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5D, the cartridge 1021 is provided with a shutter 1032 that closes the toner replenishing port 1023c when the cartridge 1021 is not mounted so as to be slidable in the circumferential direction. Further, flexible seal members (not shown) for sealing the toner supply port 1023c are attached to the main body 1023, and one end of this seal member is fixed to the shutter 1032. When the shutter 1032 slides in the circumferential direction,
The seal member is peeled off to open the toner supply port 1023c.

As shown in FIG. 4, the toner cartridge 1021 is removably mounted in a predetermined position of a cartridge setting portion 1035 provided in the copying machine main body 2. That is, in FIG. 4, the toner cartridge 1021 is replaced by the cartridge setting unit 1035.
When the axial position of the toner cartridge 1021 reaches a predetermined position, the toner cartridge 1021
By rotating 1021 by a predetermined angle, the toner cartridge 1021 is locked and mounted and fixed to the cartridge setting portion 1035. In that case, when the toner cartridge 1021 rotates by a predetermined angle, a part of the shutter 1032 is engaged with an engaging portion (not shown) provided on the reserve tank 1022 side, so that the rotation of the shutter 1032 is blocked. . That is, the shutter 1032 slides relative to the case body 1023 in the circumferential direction, the seal member is peeled off, and the toner supply port 1023c is opened. When the toner cartridge 1021 is locked and attached and fixed to the cartridge setting portion 1035, the toner supply port 1023c faces downward and opens in the reserve tank 1022.

When the cartridge 1021 is set in the cartridge setting unit 1035, the coupling of the cartridge 1021
1025 meshes with a coupling 1025 attached to a gear 1026a of a power transmission mechanism 1026 provided on the main body 2 side. Then, the power transmission mechanism 10
The rotational driving force of the driving means 1027 such as a motor transmitted via 26 is transmitted to the end portion of the spiral agitator 1024 opposite to the toner supply port 1023c via the driving force transmission shaft 1024c. Therefore, in the spiral agitator 1024, power is transmitted from the left side in FIG. 5 (d).
Therefore, the spiral agitator 1024 rotates in the A direction, the toner flows in the B direction, that is, toward the toner supply port 1023c, and is supplied from the toner supply port 1023c into the reserve tank 1022.

Further, the toner is prevented from being solidified by the toner flowing in this way. Furthermore, the driving force transmission shaft 1024c
The toner crushing portion 1024d is rotated by the rotation of the toner. Therefore, the toner crushing portion 1024d conveys the toner in the rotation direction. As a result, the toner scraping portion 1024d applies a force to the toner in the direction orthogonal to the axial direction, and as a result, the toner conveyed in the B direction by the rotation of the spiral agitator 1024 is rotated in the vicinity of the toner supply port 1023c depending on the conditions. Even if there is a risk of the toner solidifying, the toner is prevented from solidifying and the toner that has already solidified is destroyed. Furthermore, the coupling of the toner cartridge 1021
Since the 1025 and the toner supply port 1023c are provided on the same side, the driving force transmission shaft 10 is set when the cartridge 1021 is set.
The influence of the joint state between the coupling 1025 in 24c and the coupling 1025 in the gear 1026a of the power transmission mechanism 1026 on the position of the toner supply port 1023c is reduced. As a result, the toner is supplied to the toner supply port 1023.
The toner can be more accurately supplied from c to the toner introducing portion 1030c of the reserve tank 1022. In addition, the toner supply port 1023c
The rotation of the spiral agitator 1024 in the A direction for conveying the toner in the B direction is toward the direction in which the diameter is reduced when the load is applied to the spiral agitator 1024. Ten
It does not come into contact with the inner peripheral surface of 23a and lock.
This also prevents disengagement of the gear 1026a of the power transmission mechanism 1026.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 6, the reserve tank 1022
As described above, the tank portion 1030 including the two toner storage portions 1030a and 1030b and the toner storage portions 1030a and 1030
The toner supply unit 1031 is provided between the b and and supplies the toner to the developing unit 53. Partition walls 1036 and 1037 are provided between the toner storage portions 1030a and 1030b and the toner supply portion 1031, respectively. These partition walls 1036 and 1037 have a reserve tank 1 on the left end side in FIG.
022 is not extended to the left side wall 1022b of the main body 1022a,
Therefore, openings 1038 and 1039 are formed between the left side wall 1022b and the left ends of the partition walls 1036 and 1037, respectively. Further, the partition walls 1036, 1037 are also provided with openings 1040, 1041 in the same manner, on the left side by a predetermined amount from their right ends.
These opening portions 1038, 1039, 1040, 1041 allow the toner storage portions 1030a, 1030b and the toner supply portion 1031 to communicate with each other.

The toner accommodating portions 1030a and 1030b each include a spiral agitator 104 made of metal wire such as wire wound in a spiral shape.
2, 1043 are arranged in parallel with each other. The right end 1042a of one spiral agitator 1042 is connected to the gear shaft 1044, and the left end 1042b is rotatably supported by the left side wall 1022b. The spiral agitator 1042 is wound in one direction, and a blade 1045 is attached at a position near the left end and facing the opening 1038. Both ends of the other spiral agitator 1043 are similarly supported. The winding direction of this spiral agitator 1043 is the opening
It is wound in the opposite direction starting from 1041. That is, the spiral agitator 1043 is wound in the same winding direction as the spiral agitator 1042 on the left side of the opening 1041, but is wound in the opposite winding direction to the spiral agitator 1042 on the right side of the opening 1041. A blade 1046 is attached at a position where the winding direction of the spiral agitator 1043 changes, that is, at a position facing the opening 1041.

Further, on the right end side of the opening 1040 of the toner storage portion 1030a,
It is referred to as a toner introduction unit 1030c. Also, cartridge 1
On the side wall of the main body 1022a, which is slightly left in FIG. 6, from the position where the toner supply port 1023c of 021 faces the empty detection sensor 104.
7 are provided. The presence / absence of toner in the cartridge 1021 is detected by the empty detection sensor 1047.

On the other hand, a supply hole 1048 for supplying toner to the developing means 53 is formed at a predetermined position on the bottom of the toner supply unit 1031.
Further, an auger 1049 is arranged in the toner supply unit 1031 in parallel with the two spiral agitators 1042 and 1043. This auger 1049 is also a spiral agitator 1042,1043
Similarly to, is rotatably supported by the main body 1022a. The spirally wound blades of the auger 1049 have their winding directions reversed with respect to the supply hole 1048.

In the reserve tank 1022 configured in this way,
When the cartridge 1021 is set in the cartridge setting portion 1035, the shutter 1032 slides, so that the toner supply port 10
Both 23c will open automatically. Therefore, the cartridge 102
The toner in 1 is introduced into the toner introducing portion 1030c in the reserve tank 1022 through the toner supply port 1023c. The introduced toner is sent to the left by the rotation of the spiral agitator 1042 and detected by the empty detection sensor 1047. When the toner is sent to the left, the toner introduction part 1030c
Further, new toner is introduced from the cartridge 1021. When the toner reaches the left end of the toner containing portion 1030a, the toner is sent by the blade 1045 through the opening 1038 toward the toner supply portion 1031. Part of the toner sent to the toner supply unit 1031 is sent to the supply hole 1048 by the auger 1049, and is supplied to the developing means 53 through the supply hole 1048. In that case, even if the toner passes through the supply hole 1048, the blade of the auger 1049 is in the opposite direction, so the toner that has passed is returned to the supply hole 1048, and is surely transferred to the developing means 53 through the supply hole 1048. Sent to.

On the other hand, the remaining portion of the toner sent to the toner supply unit 1031 is pushed by the new toner sent by the blade 1045, and thus flows into the toner storage unit 1030b through the opening 1039. The toner that has flowed into the toner storage unit 1030b is sent to the opening 1041 on the right side by the spiral agitator 1043. The toner that came to the opening 1041 is opened by the blade 1046.
It is sent to the toner storage unit 1030a through 1041 and 1040. Even in this case, even if the toner passes through the opening 1041, the toner is not transferred to the opening 1041 by the spiral agitator 1043 in the opposite direction.
Returned to.

The toner flowing into the toner storage unit 1030a is sent to the left again by the spiral agitator 1042. In that case,
Since the spiral agitator 1042 ensures that the toner is sent to the left, the toner that has flowed in from the opening 1040 does not flow to the toner introduction unit 1030c on the right. Therefore, only the toner from the cartridge 1021 is introduced into the toner introduction unit 1030.

In this way, a predetermined amount of toner in the reserve tank 1022 is sent to the developing means 53 from the supply hole 1048, and the rest of the toner circulates between the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b.
This circulation prevents the toner in the toner storage portions 1030a and 1030b from solidifying.

In addition, the volume of the toner storage units 1030a and 1030b is set to a size that allows 2000 to 3000 copies before the new cartridge is set even if the toner in the cartridge 1021 is empty. There is.

As shown in FIG. 7, the dispenser portion including the cartridge 1021, the cartridge installation portion 1035, the reserve tank 1022, the power transmission mechanism 1026, and the motor driving means 1027 has a cartridge 1021 use position A in the left-right direction of the main body 2 indicated by a broken line.
And a cartridge 1021 replacement position B protruding from the main body 2 in the front-rear direction of the main body 2 shown by the solid line so as to be pivotally supported by the main body 2. Therefore, in order to replace the cartridge 1021, the dispenser unit 1050 is rotated to the replacement position B, the used cartridge 1021 is removed, and a new cartridge 1021 is installed.
Set it to 1035. Then, the dispenser unit is rotated to the use position A and fixed at the use position A.

8 to 10 are views showing another embodiment of the present invention. The same components as those in the above-described embodiment are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, a spiral agitator 1024 in which the toner scraping portion 1024d faces the toner supply port 1023c.
Is provided at the free end 1024a. Therefore, as the spiral agitator 1024 rotates, the toner scraper
Since 1024d rotates, the toner does not solidify and the solidified toner is destroyed. Further, since the toner scraping portion 1024d is formed by the spiral agitator 1024 itself, the number of parts can be reduced and the manufacturing becomes easy.

Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the toner scraping member 1023d
Is provided in the bottom of the cylindrical portion 1023a in the vicinity of the toner supply port 1023c so as to be vertically rotatable about an axis in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the spiral agitator 1024. In this case, the toner scraping member 1023d is provided such that its free end faces the downstream side in the toner flow direction from the rotary shaft end side. The toner scraping member 1023d is constantly urged upward by an urging means such as a spring, and is pressed downward when the spiral agitator 1024 contacts. Then, as the spiral agitator 1024 rotates, the contact portion between the toner scraping member 1023d and the spiral agitator 1024 moves to the right in the figure, so that the toner scraping member 1023d rotates clockwise. Furthermore, when the contact portion between the toner scraping member 1023d and the spiral agitator 1024 moves to the right and the spiral agitator 1024 comes off the toner scraping member 1023d,
The toner scraping member 1023d is repelled upward by the biasing means. As a result, the solidified toner near the toner supply port 1023c is destroyed. Also, the toner scraping member 1023d
Is provided so that its free end faces the downstream side in the toner flow direction from the rotary shaft end side.
Even if d is provided, the toner will flow more smoothly, and blocking of the toner will be less likely to occur. Furthermore, since the spiral agitator 1024 has a spiral shape, and the contact point between the spiral agitator 1024 and the toner scraping member 1023d moves along the longitudinal direction of the spiral agitator 1024 as the spiral agitator 1024 rotates, the spiral agitator 1024 The rotation amount of the toner scraping member 1023d relative to the rotation amount of the toner scraping member 1023d is relatively small, and the toner scraping member 1023d rotates when the spiral agitator 1024 rotates.
23d turns slowly. Therefore, the force of the spiral agitator 1024 for rotating the toner scraping member 1023d does not momentarily increase, and there is no possibility of uneven rotation of the spiral agitator 1024.Therefore, even if the toner scraping member 1023d is provided, the toner is stirred. ,
Transport is performed smoothly.

Therefore, also in this embodiment, the toner dispensing is performed more effectively.

Further, the embodiment shown in FIG. 10 is an example in which the toner scraping member is not provided.

[Effects of the Invention] As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the toner replenishing port is provided only on one end side of the cylindrical main body, and further, the toner replenishing port of the spiral agitator for conveying the toner in the longitudinal direction. The side end is a free end, and the driving force transmission shaft for transmitting the rotational driving force from the driving means is provided on the same side as the toner replenishing port, so that the toner flows in the longitudinal direction of the spiral agitator. However, the blocking of the conveyed toner can be reliably prevented by this toner flow.
In particular, by making the end of the spiral agitator on the toner supply port side a free end, it is possible to more effectively prevent toner blocking at the toner supply port where toner blocking easily occurs, and also to supply toner to the drive force transmission part of the toner cartridge. By providing it on the same side as the mouth, it is possible to reduce the influence of the joint state between the driving force transmitting portion and the driving means on the position of the toner replenishing opening when setting the toner cartridge.

Further, by transmitting the rotational driving force of the driving means to the end portion of the spiral agitator on the side opposite to the toner supply port,
When the spiral agitator is rotationally driven to convey the toner so that the toner is sent to the toner supply port,
Even if a part of the spiral agitator is loaded with toner or the like, the diameter of the spiral agitator is reduced, so that the spiral agitator can be prevented from being locked and good dispensing can be performed. As a result, the toner can be stably and reliably replenished, and stable and good image quality can be obtained.

In addition, the drive force transmission shaft is provided so as to penetrate through the spiral agitator, and the end of the drive force transmission shaft opposite to the drive force transmission portion is connected to the end of the spiral agitator opposite to the toner supply port side. Since the spiral agitator does not lock like the above because it is integrally connected to the section, the number of parts can be reduced, the manufacturing is easy, and the cost can be reduced.

Further, since a toner disintegrating member is provided near the toner replenishing port, and the toner disintegrating member is formed by the spiral agitator or the driving force transmitting shaft itself, the toner disintegrating member is driven when the spiral agitator or the driving force transmitting shaft is driven to rotate. It can be operated reliably. As a result, it is possible to effectively and reliably prevent the blocking of the toner in the vicinity of the toner supply port where the toner is likely to be blocked, and to perform stable dispensing. Moreover, the number of parts can be further reduced, manufacturing can be performed more easily, and cost can be further reduced.

Further, in the vicinity of the toner replenishing port, a toner disintegrating member is vertically rotatable about an axis in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the spiral agitator, and its free end is directed to the downstream side in the toner flowing direction. Are provided so that they can be contacted and separated, and the toner scraping member is constantly urged in the spiral agitator direction by an urging means such as a spring, so that toner blocking near the toner replenishing port where blocking of the toner easily occurs is prevented. It can be effectively prevented. Further, since the free end of the toner scraping member is directed to the downstream side in the toner flow direction, the toner can flow smoothly even if the toner scraping member is provided, and the rotation of the toner scraping member causes uneven rotation of the spiral agitator. Since there is no possibility of causing toner,
The conveyance can be smoothly performed, and the toner dispensing can be stably performed.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a color copying machine to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied, FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of developing means of this color copying machine, and FIG. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the toner supply device, FIG. 5 shows an example of a toner cartridge, (a) is a front view thereof, (b) is a bottom view thereof, (c) is a right side view thereof, (d). Is Vd in (a)
-Vd line sectional view, FIG. 6 is a horizontal sectional view of the reserve tank, FIG. 7 is an explanatory view of the toner cartridge mounting, and FIG.
FIG. 10 to FIG. 10 are views showing other embodiments of the present invention. 1 ... Color copying machine, 5 ... Image forming apparatus, 51 ... Photosensitive drum, 52 ... First developing means, 53 ... Second developing means, 10
20 ... Toner supply device, 1021 ... Toner cartridge,
1022 …… Reserve tank, 1023 …… Cartridge body,
1023c …… Toner supply port, 1024 …… Spiral agitator, 1024a …… Free end, 1024c …… Driving force transmission shaft, 1023d,
1024d …… Toner scraper

Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Yu Ono 2274 Hongo, Ebina City, Kanagawa Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd. Ebina Works (56) Reference Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2-110481 (JP, A) Sho 62-142066 (JP) , U) Actually open 1-108555 (JP, U) Actually open 2-137870 (JP, U) Actually open 64-29657 (JP, U) Actually open 55-130353 (JP, U)

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical toner cartridge detachably mounted on a toner supply device of an image forming apparatus and used in the mounted state, the cylindrical main body having a toner supply port, and the cylindrical main body. A spiral agitator which is disposed inside and is rotationally driven by a rotational driving force from a driving means via a driving force transmission shaft, and the toner supply port is provided only on one end side of the cylindrical main body. The spiral agitator is set to convey the toner from the other end of the cylindrical body to the toner supply port in the axial direction, and the end of the toner supply port side is a free end. A toner cart in a toner supply device of an image forming apparatus, characterized in that a driving force transmitting portion for transmitting the rotational driving force to a force transmitting shaft is provided on the same side as the toner supply port. Tsu di. 2. The driving force transmitting shaft is arranged so as to penetrate through the spiral agitator, and an end portion of the driving force transmitting shaft opposite to the driving force transmitting portion is the spiral agitator. 2. The toner cartridge in the toner supply device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge is integrally connected to an end portion on the side opposite to the toner supply port side. 3. A toner crushing member is provided in the vicinity of the toner supply port, and the toner crushing member is formed by the spiral agitator or the driving force transmission shaft itself. 2. A toner cartridge in the toner supply device of the image forming apparatus according to 2. 4. A toner crushing member is provided in the vicinity of the toner replenishing port, and the toner crushing member is vertically rotatable about an axis in a direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the spiral agitator, and is freely movable. The end is directed to the downstream side in the toner flow direction from the end side of the rotating shaft, and the spiral agitator is provided so as to be contactable and separable. Further, the toner scraping member is provided in the spiral agitator direction by a biasing means such as a spring. The toner cartridge in the toner supply device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the toner cartridge is constantly biased to.