JPH07261534A - Developer supplying device for image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the wastage of a toner and the pollution of the periphery due to the leakage of the residual toner when the toner is supplied to a toner hopper and improve economical efficiency and maintenance property by illuminating a supplying container made of a translucent member with an illuminating means when a developer is supplied. CONSTITUTION:A toner cartridge 43 serving as a supplying container stores a toner for supplying it to a toner hopper 36, and it is made of a light transmitting plastic member. When a toner supplying cover 41 is opened for supplying the toner to the toner hopper 36 from the toner cartridge 43, an illuminating lamp 42 is automatically lighted. The toner cartridge 43 is well vibrated to loosen lumps of the toner inside, and the cartridge 43 is fitted to a supply port 39, with the direction of its discharge section 44 matched. The illuminating lamp 42 is inserted into the recess 43 of the toner cartridge 43, and the inside of the toner cartridge 43 is illuminated by the illuminating lamp 42.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer replenishing device in an image forming apparatus for replenishing toner to a toner hopper of a developing device in the image forming apparatus.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional developing device for an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic apparatus, when toner in a toner hopper becomes empty, a toner cartridge discharge port is attached to a toner hopper supply port. The toner was completely discharged to the toner hopper to replenish the toner.

[0003]

When the toner cartridge is attached to the toner supply port of the conventional toner hopper to replenish the toner, the operator cannot confirm whether all the toner in the toner cartridge has been discharged to the toner hopper side. I was there. For this reason, even if lumpy toner remains in the toner cartridge, it cannot be recognized, and the toner replenishment operation is often ended when the toner remains in the toner cartridge, and the toner is wasted. At the same time, the toner leaked from the toner cartridge stains the surrounding area, and the cleaning must be performed frequently.

On the other hand, an apparatus has been developed in which a toner cartridge is formed of a transparent member in order to visually check the toner supply state. Even if the toner cartridge itself is made transparent in this way, the entire inner wall of the toner cartridge is colored black or the like. Further, since the toner as fine particles is adhered, the toner cartridge cannot be seen through, and the residual state of the toner in the toner cartridge cannot be confirmed in the end, and the above problem cannot be solved.

Therefore, the present invention eliminates the above-mentioned problem. When the toner is supplied to the toner hopper, the operator can visually check the toner supply state in the toner cartridge, and the toner is completely consumed in the toner cartridge. Since the toner replenishment operation can be performed, it is possible to prevent waste of toner and contamination of the surrounding area due to leakage of residual toner,
An object of the present invention is to provide a developer replenishing device in an image forming apparatus that is economical and easy to maintain.

[0006]

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a developing device for applying a developer to an electrostatic latent image in an image forming apparatus having an image carrier on which the electrostatic latent image is formed. A supply means for supplying the developer, a replenishment container made of a translucent member for accommodating the developer to be replenished to the supply means and detachably fitted to the supply means, and the supply means for the replenishment container. Is provided in the vicinity of the replenishing container at the time of fitting, and irradiating means for irradiating the replenishing container when replenishing the developer from the replenishing container to the supply means.

[0007]

The present invention is configured as described above, and when the developer is replenished, the inside of the replenishing container is made transparent by irradiating the replenishing container made of a translucent member with the irradiating means so that the developer remains in the replenishing container. It is possible to check the status, and it is possible to replenish all the developer to the supply means without ending the replenishment operation with the developer remaining in the replenishment container. In addition, the surroundings can be prevented from being damaged due to the scattering of the developer, and the frequency of maintenance of peripheral devices can be reduced.

[0008]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of the inside of a main body 10 of a copying machine which is an image forming apparatus. A drum-shaped photoconductor 12, which is an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, is provided in a substantially central portion of an apparatus main body 10 having an original table 8 on its upper surface. Along with, the charging device 13, the exposure unit 14a of the exposure device 14, the developing device 16, the transfer charger 17, the peeling charger 18,
The cleaning devices 20 are sequentially provided to form an image forming unit 21.

On the right side of the apparatus body 10, a sheet feeding cassette device 22 and a sheet feeding tray 23 are provided, and the apparatus body 10
Formed therein is a paper feed path 26 for guiding the paper fed from the paper feed cassette device 22 or the paper feed tray 23 through the photoconductor 12 to the paper discharge tray 24 provided on the left side of the apparatus main body 10.

A pickup roller 22a and a manual feed roller 2 are provided on the upstream side of the photosensitive member 12 in the sheet conveying path 26.
Align the leading edge of the paper taken out by 3a, and
A registration roller 27 that conveys the toner image formed above in synchronization with the toner image is provided.

On the other hand, downstream of the photoconductor 12 in the paper transport path 26, a transport belt 28 for transporting the paper from the transfer position to the fixing position, a pair of fixing rollers 30, and a paper discharge roller 31 are provided. Reference numeral 9 is a document table cover.

Next, the developing device 16 will be described in detail. The developing device 16 includes a magnet roller 3 inside the casing 16a.
The second, first and second mixers 33 and 34 are accommodated in the toner
And a magnetic brush developing method for developing with a two-component developer composed of a carrier, and above the rear side of the first mixer 33, from the toner hopper 36, which is a supply unit for storing toner, to the inside of the casing 16a. A toner transport auger unit 37 that transports and supplies toner is connected to.

Here, the toner hopper 36 is provided on the upper right side of the apparatus main body 10, and inside thereof, a detection lever 36a is provided which is rotated according to the amount of toner stored. A toner empty switch 39 is switched by the detection lever 36a. Further, an inner lid 40 having a supply port 39 which can be opened and closed by a slide cover 38 having a slide lever 38a is formed above the toner hopper 36. Further, on the upper surface of the apparatus main body 10, a toner replenishing cover 41, which is a covering means that is opened and closed to expose the toner hopper 36 during toner replenishment, is formed.

On the inner wall of the toner replenishing cover 41, an irradiating lamp 42, which is an irradiating means and is turned on in association with the opening operation of the toner replenishing cover 41, is attached.

On the other hand, reference numeral 43 is a toner cartridge which is a replenishing container, and is made of a plastic member for accommodating the toner for replenishing the toner hopper 36 and transmitting light. The discharge portion 44 of the toner cartridge 43 can be attached to the supply port 39 of the toner hopper 36, and the discharge port 46 is attached with a sealing sheet 47. 47
a is a seat cover part. Toner cartridge 43
A concave portion 43a is formed on the side surface of the toner cartridge 43, and the irradiation lamp 42 of the toner supply cover 41 is inserted into the concave portion 43a with the toner cartridge 43 attached to the toner hopper 36. Next, the operation will be described.

When a copy key (not shown) is turned on after the operator inputs necessary image forming conditions on an operation panel (not shown) at the start of copying, the photoconductor 12 is rotated, and according to the rotation of the photoconductor 12, The toner image is formed on the photoconductor 12 by sequentially performing the steps of charging, exposing, and developing. On the other hand, in synchronization with the toner image on the photoconductor 12, the sheet is conveyed from the sheet feeding cassette device 22 or the sheet feeding tray 23 to the position of the transfer charger 17, and the toner image is transferred by the transfer charger 17.

After that, the sheet having the toner image is the photosensitive member 1.
After being separated from the sheet 2, the sheet is conveyed by the conveyor belt 28, fixed by the fixing roller 30, and then accumulated on the sheet discharge tray 24 by the sheet discharge roller 31. On the other hand, the photoreceptor 12 after the transfer is completed
Is allowed to be copied next through the cleaning device 20, and the copy forming operation is repeated until the required number of copies is reached. In this manner, the developing device 16
Toner transport auger unit 3
The toner is conveyed and supplied from the toner hopper 36 into the casing 16a of the developing device 16 via 7, but when the toner in the toner hopper 36 is exhausted by this supply, the tip of the detection lever 36a reaches the bottom surface and the toner empty switch 39 is switched. Then, the operator is informed of that fact on the control panel (not shown), and the image forming means 21 of the apparatus body 10 is stopped.

As a result, the operator replenishes the toner from the toner cartridge 43 to the toner hopper 36. First, when the toner supply cover 41 is opened for toner supply, the irradiation lamp 42 is automatically turned on. Next, the toner cartridge 43 is well shaken to loosen the lump of toner that is being shaken, and then the discharge portion 44 of the toner cartridge 43 is attached to the replenishment port 39 in the same direction. As a result, the irradiation lamp 42 is inserted into the recess 43a of the toner cartridge 43, and the inside of the toner cartridge 43 is irradiated by the irradiation lamp 42. However, at this time, the toner cartridge 43 is filled with toner, and the light from the irradiation lamp 42 does not pass through the toner cartridge 43.

Thereafter, the slide lever 38a is pulled in the direction of arrow x to slide the slide cover 38 to open the replenishment port 39 of the toner hopper 36 first. With this opening operation, the slide cover 38 and the seat cover portion 47a are opened.
Is also slid. Then, the sealing sheet 47 is peeled off, the discharge port 46 of the toner cartridge 43 is opened, and the toner in the toner cartridge 43 is dropped into the toner hopper 36 to be replenished. When the toner cartridge 43 is emptied in this way, the light of the irradiation lamp 42 passes through the toner cartridge 43, so that the operator can visually check the residual state of the toner inside the toner cartridge 43.

That is, in the toner-free portion of the toner cartridge 43, although the toner layer is thinly attached to the inner wall of the toner cartridge 43, the light of the irradiation lamp 42 can be sufficiently transmitted, and the operator can confirm the transmitted light. On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 4, when the toner 49 remains in the toner cartridge 43 in a solid state, the light of the irradiation lamp 42 is not transmitted in that portion and a shadow is generated. Therefore, the operator recognizes that a lump of toner remains in the toner cartridge 43, and vibrates the toner cartridge 43 to completely drop and replenish the lump into the toner hopper 36.

After the toner in the toner cartridge 43 is completely replenished in the toner hopper 36 in this manner, the slide cover 38a is slid in the direction opposite to the arrow x direction to close the replenishment port 39, and accordingly, the seat cover is closed. Part 4
By sliding 7a, the sealing sheet 47 is folded and stored in the discharge portion 44. After that, when the toner cartridge 43 is removed from the replenishing port 39 and the toner replenishing cover 41 is finally closed, the irradiation lamp 42 is extinguished, and the toner replenishing operation to the toner hopper 36 is completed.

According to this structure, the operator at the time of toner replenishment can confirm the residual condition of the toner in the toner cartridge 43, and the toner replenishment operation may end with the toner remaining in the toner cartridge 43. Without
Toner is not wasted and toner is not scattered from the toner cartridge 43 to the surroundings, so that the economical efficiency and maintainability can be improved.

Further, since the recess 43a is formed in the toner cartridge 43 and the irradiation lamp 42 is inserted, the inside of the toner cartridge 43 can be more effectively irradiated, and the residual condition of the toner can be confirmed more clearly.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various design changes can be made. For example, the material of the replenishing container may be colored as long as it has translucency. Also, FIG.
The irradiation lamp 50 is provided separately from the toner replenishing cover 51 as in the other embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the irradiation lamp 50 is moved to the irradiation position after the toner replenishing cover 51 is opened, and further on the control panel (not shown). It may be turned on / off by.

Further, the shape of the replenishing container is also arbitrary, and if the transmission of light by the irradiating means can be confirmed, it is not necessary to provide a concave portion on the side surface thereof. However, if a recess is provided on the side surface and a lamp is inserted as in the embodiment, the effect of transmitting light to the entire supply container is improved, and the transmitted light can be more easily confirmed.

[0026]

As described above, according to the present invention, when replenishing the developer to the supplying means, the light from the irradiating means transmits the replenishing container to ensure the residual condition of the developer in the replenishing container. There is no fear of ending the replenishment operation while leaving the developer in the replenishing container, and it is possible to prevent the waste of the developer and the contamination of the surroundings due to the scattering of the developer, which has occurred conventionally.
The economical efficiency and maintainability can be improved.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram showing a device body of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially omitted perspective view showing a state in which a toner supply cover according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is opened.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing a toner hopper according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic explanatory view showing a state in which a toner cartridge is attached to a supply port of a toner hopper according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which a toner cartridge is attached to the supply port of the toner hopper according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which a slide cover according to an embodiment of the present invention is opened.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view showing a state during toner supply according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view showing a state in which the toner supply cover of another embodiment of the present invention is opened.

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 ... Device main body 16 ... Developing device 36 ... Toner hopper 42 ... Irradiation lamp 43 ... Toner cartridge

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. An image forming apparatus having an image carrier on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a supply means for supplying the developer to a developing device for applying the developer to the electrostatic latent image, and a light transmitting member. And a replenishment container that stores a developer to be replenished to the supply means and is detachably fitted to the supply means; and a replenishment container that is provided near the replenishment container when the replenishment container is fitted to the supply means. A developer replenishing device in an image forming apparatus, comprising: an irradiation unit that irradiates the replenishment container when replenishing the developer from the replenishment container to the supply unit. 2. An image forming apparatus having an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a supply unit for supplying the developer to a developing unit for applying the developer to the electrostatic latent image, and a supply unit for supplying the developer. And a replenishment container which is composed of a translucent member and which stores a developer to be replenished to the supply means and is detachably fitted to the supply means, and is interlocked with the opening operation of the coating means. And a lighting means for irradiating the replenishment container when the replenishment container is fitted into the supply means, the developer replenishing device in the image forming apparatus. . 3. An image forming apparatus having an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, supply means for supplying the developer to a developing device for applying the developer to the electrostatic latent image, and a translucent member. And a replenishing container that accommodates the developer to be replenished to the supplying means and has a concave portion formed on the side surface and is detachably fitted to the supplying means; and the replenishing container when the replenishing container is fitted to the supplying means. Development in an image forming apparatus, which is provided in the vicinity of the container, and is provided with an irradiation unit that irradiates the replenishment container when the developer is replenished from the replenishment container to the supply unit. Agent supply device. 4. An image forming apparatus having an image bearing member on which an electrostatic latent image is formed, a supply unit for supplying the developer to a developing device for applying the developer to the electrostatic latent image, and a supplying unit. A cover member for opening and closing the container, a replenishing container formed of a translucent member for accommodating the developer to be supplied to the supply unit and having a concave portion formed on a side surface thereof, and the container being detachably fitted to the supply unit; Irradiation means attached to the covering means so as to be turned on in association with the opening operation of the covering means, inserted into the recess when the supply container is fitted into the supply means, and irradiating the supply container. A developer replenishing device in an image forming apparatus, characterized in that