JPH0720702A - Toner replenishing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent spillage of toner out of the toner discharging port at the time of attaching/detaching the toner container to/from a holding means by fitting a cap inside plug for freely opening/closing a toner discharging port so as to open and close the cap inside plug of the toner container held by the holding means. CONSTITUTION:When the toner container 3 is fitted to the holding means 4 to be held, the toner discharging port 17 is plugged with the the cap inside plug 25, then following the holding, the cap inside plug 25 is unplugged by a cap inside plug opening/closing means 31. The toner of the inside is moved to the side of the toner discharging port 17, discharged from the toner discharging port 17 and supplied to a developing part by rotating the toner container 3 with the rotary driving means 7. The toner container 3 is detached from the holding means 4 after the cap inside plug 25 is plugged by the cap inside plug opening/closing means 31. Thus, the spillage of the toner out of the toner discharging port 17 is prevented.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention mounts a toner storage container in an image forming apparatus in a substantially horizontal direction and axially rotates it to discharge the internal toner from a toner discharge port, and the toner to a developing section is discharged. The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device configured to replenish toner.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there are various types of toner replenishing devices using a bottle-shaped toner storage container. For example, a cylindrical protrusion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of a container main body, and this container is used. Attach the toner storage container with the toner discharge port formed on one end side of the main body into the image forming apparatus in a substantially horizontal direction,
Then, by rotating the toner storage container in the axial direction, the toner inside is moved to the toner discharge port side by the spiral protrusion and is discharged from the toner discharge port, and the discharged toner is supplied to the developing unit. There is.

Here, a cap is detachably attached to the toner discharge port, and a toner storage container in which the cap is removed to open the toner discharge port is attached to the inside of the image forming apparatus.

[0004]

Therefore, when the toner storage container is attached to the inside of the image forming apparatus or when the toner storage container is removed from the image forming apparatus, the toner spills out from the toner discharge port which is in an open state. There is a drawback in that the spilled toner stains the hands of workers, clothes, and the inside of the image forming apparatus.

[0005]

The invention according to claim 1 is
A toner storage container having a toner discharge port formed at the central portion on one end side of a cylindrical container body, and a holding means for holding the toner storage container in a substantially horizontal direction in a state of being connected to a toner introduction part to a developing part, In a toner replenishing device having a rotation driving means for rotating the toner storage container held by the holding means in its axial direction, a cap inner plug is attached to the toner discharge port so as to be openable and closable and held by the holding means. An inner cap opening / closing means for opening / closing the inner cap of the toner container is provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, an urging member for urging the cap inner plug in the closing direction is provided, and the cap inner plug is brought into contact with the cap inner plug to open the cap inner plug. The cap inner cap opening / closing means by a pressing body movable to a cap opening position for pressing in a direction and a cap closing position separated from the cap inner cap, and a cam mechanism for moving the pressing body to the cap opening position and the cap closing position. Formed.

[0007]

According to the first aspect of the invention, when the toner container is held by the holding means, the toner discharge port is closed by the cap inner plug, and after the holding, the cap inner plug opening / closing means is used. To open. Then, by rotating the toner storage container by the rotation driving means, the toner inside moves to the toner discharge port side, is discharged from the toner discharge port, and is supplied to the developing unit. On the other hand, the removal of the toner storage container from the holding means is performed after the cap inner cap is closed by the cap inner cap opening / closing means. Therefore, when the toner storage container is held by the holding means or when the toner storage container is detached from the holding means, the toner discharge port is closed by the cap inner plug, so that the toner spills out from the toner discharge port. Is prevented.

According to the second aspect of the invention, when the pressing body is moved to the opening position by the cam mechanism, the pressing body contacts the inner cap of the cap, the inner cap of the cap is pressed in the opening direction, and the toner discharge port is opened. It will be released. Further, when the pressing body is moved to the closed position by the cam mechanism, the pressing body is separated from the inner cap of the cap, the inner cap of the cap is returned in the closing direction by the urging force of the urging body, and the toner discharge port is closed.

[0009]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, FIG. 2 is a plan view showing the entire structure of the plain paper copying machine 1 in a simplified manner, and FIG. 1 shows the structure of a toner supply unit in the plain paper copying machine 1. A fixed bracket 2 is fixed to the plain paper copying machine 1, and a fixed bracket 2 has a pair of movable brackets 4 which are holding means for holding a toner storage container 3 storing toner in a substantially horizontal direction. The pins 5 and 6 are rotatably attached in a horizontal plane. A rotation driving means 7 for rotating the toner storage container 3 held in the movable bracket 4 in a substantially horizontal direction in the axial direction thereof.
The rotation driving means 7 includes a motor 8, a gear group 9 rotationally driven by the motor 8, and a gear group 9
Is formed by a cylindrical rotation transmission member 11 into which the tip end side of the toner storage container 3 is inserted. The cylindrical rotation transmitting member 11 is rotatably held in a toner storage container stopper 12 fixedly held by the movable bracket 4.

A spirally-wound spiral projection 14 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical container body 13 of the toner storage container 3, and the spiral projection 14 is provided at one end of the container body 13. A spiral cylindrical portion 16 that spirals in the same direction as the spiral direction 14 and has a guide surface 15 that is substantially parallel to the axial direction of the toner storage container 3 on the inner peripheral portion and that gradually decreases in diameter is formed. A toner discharge port 17 is formed at the tip of the cylindrical portion 16 in the diameter reducing direction. Also, the guide surface 15
At the edge portion of the spiral protrusion portion 1 that protrudes inward of the spiral cylindrical portion 16 and is continuous with the spiral protrusion 14.
8 is formed. The spiral protrusion 14, the guide surface 15, and the protrusion 18 are oriented so as to move the internal toner toward the toner discharge port 17 as the toner storage container 3 rotates in the axial direction. Has been formed.

A ring-shaped engagement projection 19 is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the container body 13 on the side where the spiral cylindrical portion 16 is formed, and the movable bracket 4 is engaged by engaging with the engagement projection 19. An engaging claw 20 for preventing the toner storage container 3 held by the stopper from coming off is attached to the toner storage container stopper 12. Further, the movable bracket 4 is provided with a toner introducing section 21 for supplying the toner discharged from the toner discharging port 17 to a developing section (not shown).

A rib 22 is formed in a substantially cruciform shape on the outer peripheral portion of the spiral cylindrical portion 16, and an engaging protrusion 23 is formed on one of the ribs 22 so that the rib 22 has an inner shape. Engagement recesses 24 are formed on the peripheral surface for transmitting rotation from the cylindrical rotation transmission member 11 to the toner storage container 3 by engaging with the engagement protrusions 23. The engagement between the engaging convex portion 23 and the engaging concave portion 24 is such that when the toner storage container 3 is held by the movable bracket 4 and the tip end side of the toner storage container 3 is inserted into the cylindrical rotation transmission member 11. To be done.

A cap inner plug 2 is attached to the toner discharge port 17.
5 is attached, and the cap inner plug 25 is bendable from a cylindrical portion 26 fitted in the toner discharge opening 17 and a bent portion 27, and the toner discharge opening 1 is provided.
And a lid surface portion 28 that closes or opens 7. A spring 29, which is an urging body for urging the lid surface portion 28 in the closing direction, is attached to the cap inner plug 25, and the central portion of the lid surface portion 28 is formed in a hemispherical shape toward the outside. A protruding contact portion 30 is formed.

Next, a cap inner plug opening / closing means 31 for opening or closing the cap inner plug 25 is attached to the movable bracket 4, and the cap inner plug opening / closing means 31 is used for the toner storage container stopper 12. Boss part 1
The pressing rod 32, which is slidably held by 2a, is slidable between an opening position for opening the cap inner plug 25 and a closing position for closing the cap inner plug 25.
And a cam mechanism 33 that slides the pressing rod 32 between the open position and the closed position.

Here, the cam mechanism 33 includes a cylindrical core 34 fitted to the outer peripheral portion of the pressing rod 32 and sliding integrally with the pressing rod 32, and the toner storage container stopper 12. The pressure rod 32 is interposed between the step portion 12b and the flange portion 34a of the core 34, and is pressed together with the core 34.
A spring 35 for urging the movable bracket 4 toward the opening position, a roller 36 attached to the rear end side of the pressing rod 32, and the movable bracket 4 when the movable bracket 4 is rotated about the pins 5 and 6 as a fulcrum. A guide cam portion 37 for guiding the roller 36 is formed, and a bracket hinge 38 fixed to the fixed bracket 2 is also formed.

In such a structure, first, the procedure for mounting the toner storage container 3 in the plain paper copying machine 1 will be described. The movable bracket 4 is rotated about the pins 5 and 6 as a fulcrum to the position indicated by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. Side is inserted into the toner storage container stopper 12, the toner storage container 3 is held by the movable bracket 4, and the engaging claw 20 is engaged with the engaging projection 1.
9 is engaged. Here, the toner storage container stopper 12
A cylindrical rotation transmission member 11 is rotatably held therein, and by inserting the tip end side of the toner storage container 3 into the toner storage container stopper 12, the engagement protrusion 23 of the toner storage container 3 is tubular. The cylindrical rotation transmitting member 11 and the toner storage container are integrally rotated by being engaged with the engagement recess 24 of the rotation transmitting member 11. When the movable bracket 4 is rotated to the attachment / detachment position of the toner storage container 3, the lid surface portion 28 of the cap inner plug 25 is biased by the spring 29 as shown in FIG. The discharge port 17 is closed.

Then, the movable bracket 4 is rotated about the pins 5 and 6 as a fulcrum to the position (toner replenishing position) indicated by the broken line in FIG. Then, with this rotation operation, the roller 36 moves along the guide cam portion 37 from the position shown in FIG. 3B to the position shown in FIG. 4B, and at the same time, the pressing rod 32 moves to the position shown in FIG. It slides from the position shown in (a) (closed position) to the position shown in FIG. 4 (a) (opened position). Here, when the pressing rod 32 slides to the opening position, the tip end portion of the pressing rod 32 comes into contact with the contact portion 30 to press the lid surface portion 28, and the lid surface portion 28 is pressed by the spring 29.
The cap inner plug 25 is opened by bending the bent portion 27 against the urging force of the cap. Then, by opening the cap inner plug 25, the toner discharge port 17 is opened, the inside of the toner storage container 3 is communicated with the toner introducing portion 21 through the toner discharge port 17, and the mounting of the toner storage container 3 is completed. To do. Therefore, when the toner storage container 3 is mounted in the plain paper copying machine 1, it is not necessary to open the cap inner plug 25 in advance, and at the time of this mounting, the toner is prevented from spilling out from the toner discharge port 17. It is prevented that the spilled toner stains the worker's hand, clothes, and the movable bracket 4.

Next, copying will be carried out after the mounting of the toner container 3 is completed.
When a sensor (not shown) detects that the amount of toner inside is less than or equal to a predetermined amount, the motor 8 is driven based on the detection result. Then, the cylindrical rotation transmitting member 11 is rotationally driven by the drive of the motor 8 through the gear group 9 and the gear 10, and the engagement convex portion 23 and the engagement concave portion 24 are engaged with each other so that the toner storage container 3 has its shaft. Is rotationally driven integrally with the tubular rotation transmission member 11. When the toner storage container 3 rotates in its axial direction, the toner in the toner storage container 3 is carried by the spiral protrusions 14 and enters the spiral cylindrical portion 16, and the toner that enters the spiral cylindrical portion 16 is a guide surface. The toner that has climbed onto the guide surface 15 and onto the guide surface 15 is the guide surface 1
5 is moved toward the toner discharge port 17 and is eventually discharged from the toner discharge port 17. The toner discharged from the toner discharge port 17 passes through the toner dropping opening 39 formed in the toner storage container stopper 12 and passes through the toner introducing portion 21.
To the developing unit.

Since the tip portion of the pressing rod 32 is in contact with the hemispherical contact portion 30, the pressing rod 32 and the contact portion 30 are in contact with each other.
The contact state of is close to a point contact. Therefore, in the state where the pressing rod 32 and the contact portion 30 are in contact with each other, the toner storage container 3
Even if the contact portion 30 rotates integrally with the contact portion 30, the resistance between the pressing rod 32 and the contact portion 30 becomes small, so that the toner storage container 3 can be smoothly rotated.

When the lid surface portion 28 is bent from the bent portion 27 to open the toner ejection port 17, the opening area of the toner ejection port 17 is regulated by the lid surface portion 28, and the toner ejection port 17 is opened. It is possible to prevent more than the required amount of toner from being discharged at one time.

Furthermore, since the guide surface 15 is substantially parallel to the axial direction of the toner storage container 3 and the protrusion 18 is formed at the edge of the guide surface 15, the toner moving on the guide surface 15 is guided. Spilling from the surface 15 to the side is prevented, and the toner is ejected favorably from the toner ejection port 17. In particular, even when the amount of remaining toner is low, the toner is smoothly carried over from the inside of the container body 13 onto the guide surface 15, so that the toner in the toner storage container 3 can be used up to the end without waste. .

Next, when the toner in the toner storage container 3 is exhausted, the movable bracket 4 is rotated around the pins 5 and 6 as a fulcrum to the attachment / detachment position of the toner storage container 3 shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. Let Then, with this rotating operation, the roller 36 moves from the position shown in FIG. 4B toward the position shown in FIG. 3B along the guide cam portion 37, and at the same time, the pressing rod 32 moves. It slides from the open position shown in FIG. 4 (a) toward the closed position shown in FIG. 3 (a). Then, the pressing rod 32 slides toward the closed position and separates from the contact portion 30, so that the lid surface portion 2
8 is returned to the position for closing the toner discharge port 17 as shown in FIG. 3A by the urging force of the spring 29. Therefore, when the movable bracket 4 is rotated to the attachment / detachment position of the toner storage container 3 to replace the toner storage container 3, the inner cap 25 of the cap is closed, so that the toner storage container 3 is moved to the movable bracket. Even if the toner is removed from No. 4, the toner slightly remaining inside does not spill out from the toner discharge port 17, and it is possible to prevent the spilled toner from contaminating the operator's hand, clothes, and the movable bracket 4. .

In this embodiment, the container body 13
The guide surface 15 of the spiral protrusion 14 and the spiral cylindrical portion 16 of
Although the description has been given by taking as an example the one in which the lines are formed, it is also possible to make them both two lines, or to make one line two and the other line one.

Further, in this embodiment, the container body 13
Toner storage container 3 having spiral protrusions 14 formed on the inner peripheral surface of
Although the spiral protrusion 14 is not always necessary, the inner peripheral surface of the container body may be a smooth surface. When the inner peripheral surface of the container main body is a smooth surface, the container main body is formed into a cylindrical body that gradually expands toward the toner discharge port 17 side, or the container main body has the toner discharge port 17 downward. By mounting it so that it is slightly inclined so that the toner moves with the rotation, the spiral protrusion 14
Is performed in substantially the same manner as in the case of forming.

[0025]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the toner container having the toner discharge port formed at the central portion on one end side of the cylindrical container body, and the toner container is introduced into the developing section. In a toner replenishing device having a holding means for holding the toner storage container held in a substantially horizontal direction in a state of being communicated with the section and a rotation driving means for rotating the toner storage container held by the holding means in the axial direction thereof, the toner discharge port is provided. Since a cap inner plug opening and closing means for opening and closing the cap inner plug to open and close the cap inner plug of the toner storage container held by the holding means is provided, it is possible to hold the toner storage container in the holding means. Can be performed while the toner discharge port is closed with the cap inner cap and held, and then the cap inner cap can be opened by the cap inner cap opening / closing means. The toner storage container can be removed after the cap inner plug is closed by the cap inner cap opening / closing means. It is possible to prevent the toner from spilling out, and prevent the spilled toner from soiling the worker's hands, clothes, holding means, and the like.

As described above, the invention according to claim 2 is, in the invention according to claim 1, provided with a biasing member for biasing the cap inner plug in the closing direction, and abutting against the cap inner plug, Inside the cap by a pressing body that is movable to an opening position that presses the stopper in the opening direction and a closing position that separates from the internal cap, and a cam mechanism that moves the pressing body to the opening position and the closing position. Since the opening and closing means is formed,
The cap inner plug opening / closing means can have a simple structure and the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional front view showing the structure of a toner replenishing unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a plain paper copying machine in a simplified manner.

3A and 3B show a cap inner plug opening / closing means in a state in which a movable bracket is rotated to a mounting / demounting position of a toner storage container, FIG. 3A is a vertical sectional front view, and FIG. 3B is a plan view.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a cap inner plug opening / closing means in a state in which a movable bracket is rotated to a toner replenishment position,
(A) is a vertical sectional front view, and (b) is a plan view.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the structure of the cap inner plug,
(A) is a vertical sectional front view, and (b) is a side view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Toner Storage Container 4 Holding Means 7 Rotation Driving Means 13 Container Main Body 17 Toner Discharge Port 21 Toner Introducing Section 25 Cap Inner Plug 31 Cap Inner Cap Opening / Closing Means 32 Pressing Body 33 Cam Mechanism

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A toner container having a toner discharge port formed at the center of one end of a cylindrical container body, and the toner container held in a substantially horizontal direction in a state of communicating with a toner introduction part to a developing part. In a toner replenishing device having a holding means for holding and a rotation driving means for rotating the toner storage container held by the holding means in its axial direction, a cap inner plug is attached to the toner discharge port so as to be openable and closable. A toner replenishing device comprising a cap inner plug opening / closing means for opening and closing the cap inner plug of the toner storage container held by the means. 2. An urging member for urging the cap inner cap in the cap closing direction is provided, and the cap opening stopper is contacted with the cap inner cap to press the cap inner cap in the cap opening direction, and the cap inner cap is separated from the cap inner cap. 2. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the cap inner cap opening / closing means is formed by a pressing body that is movable to a capping position that opens and a cam mechanism that moves the pressing body to a capping position and a capping position. apparatus.