JPH0734433Y2 - Toner cartridge for electrophotographic device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial application] The present invention relates to a toner cartridge for an electrophotographic apparatus.

[Prior Art] First, an outline of an electrophotographic apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a photosensitive drum, which is rotated in the arrow direction. As the photosensitive drum 1 rotates, first, the charger 2
After the surface is uniformly charged by, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface by light 3 from an optical system unit (not shown). The image formed on the photoconductor drum 1 is developed with the toner 5 of the developing device 4, and then transferred to the paper 7 sent from the paper feeding unit (not shown) by the transfer device 6. The sheet 7 on which the image has been transferred passes through the transfer device 6, the image is fixed by the fixing section 8 configured by a pair of fixing rollers, and then the sheet 7 is ejected to the sheet ejection section.

By the way, when such an electrophotographic apparatus is used for a long time, the amount of the toner 5 in the developing device 4 decreases,
In the conventional developing device 4, the developing roller 12 is provided in the toner containing portion 11.
And with respect to the developing device main body 14 including the blade 13 and the like,
A toner cartridge 16 for replenishing toner in the developing device main body 14 via a seal member 15 is detachably mounted.

The toner cartridge 16 is detachably attached to the developing device body 14 and has a toner replenishing container 18 having an opening 17 toward the developing device body 14, and an opening of the toner replenishing container 18.
A toner seal film 19 is peelably attached to the periphery of 17 via an adhesive to form a sealed structure.

Therefore, when the toner 5 needs to be replenished with the toner cartridge 16 incorporated in the developing device main body 14,
If the toner seal film 19 is peeled off, the toner supply container
The toner in 18 is replenished in the developing device main body 14.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] By the way, there is a case where the toner cartridge 16 of this type is transported as a single body by using an aircraft.

In such a case, since the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the toner cartridge 16 becomes large due to the decrease of the atmospheric pressure, that is, the external pressure is significantly decreased with respect to the internal pressure of the toner cartridge 16, so that the parts constituting the toner cartridge 16 and the toner replenishment are replenished. In some cases, the adhesive between the container 18 and the toner seal film 19 is broken, and the toner inside scatters to the outside.

Therefore, even if the air pressure changes during transportation, the toner supply container
In order to eliminate the pressure difference between the inside and outside of 18, it was considered to form a small hole in the toner supply container 18 so as to penetrate the inside and outside. However, this is not a drastic solution because the toner inside scatters from the small holes to the outside due to vibration during transportation.

Here, the object of the present invention is to solve such a problem, and it is possible to accommodate a predetermined amount of toner while achieving downsizing, and with a simple structure, withstand atmospheric pressure changes during transportation. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge for an electrophotographic apparatus that can be used.

[Means for Solving the Problem] Therefore, in the present invention, a toner replenishing container having a hermetically sealed structure which is detachably attached to a developing device main body and internally stores toner to be replenished into the developing device main body, A toner cartridge having a cap removably fitted in a toner filling port of a toner supply container, wherein the cap is formed with a concentric annular bellows portion meandering inward and outward from a center thereof toward a flange portion. And

[Operation] When a pressure difference is generated inside and outside the toner cartridge due to a change in atmospheric pressure during transportation, the bellows portion of the cap is elastically deformed according to the pressure difference, so that the structure can withstand the change in atmospheric pressure during transportation. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the destruction of parts caused by the change in atmospheric pressure and the scattering of the internal toner to the outside.

Further, since the bellows portion has a concentric annular shape that meanders inward and outward from the center of the cap toward the flange portion, it can be accommodated within the thickness of the side wall of the toner supply container. Therefore, it is possible to accommodate a predetermined amount of toner while reducing the size.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. In the description of these figures, the same components as those in FIG. 3 are designated by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted or simplified.

FIG. 1 shows a toner cartridge of this embodiment. The toner cartridge of this embodiment includes a toner replenishing container 18 which is detachably attached to the developing device main body 14 and has an opening 17 toward the developing device main body 14, and an opening 17 of the toner replenishing container 18.
And a toner seal film 19 that is releasably attached to the periphery of the toner seal film via an adhesive to form a sealed structure.

The toner seal film 19 has an adhesive on one surface, and the adhesive surface side thereof is adhered by pressing while applying heat to the periphery of the opening 17 of the toner supply container 18,
After the other end is folded back in the peeling direction, it is pulled out to the upper surface side of the toner supply container 18.

In addition to the opening 17, the toner supply container 18 has a toner filling port 21 on the end face of the toner seal film 19 on the folded end side.
Has been drilled. A cap 22 is fitted into the toner filling port 21 after the toner is filled in the toner supply container 18.

As shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B), the cap 22 is entirely formed of an elastic member such as polyethylene or rubber, and has a concentric annular bellows portion that meanders inward and outward from the center toward the flange portion 23. 24 are formed. The bellows portion 24 has such strength that, when a pressure difference is generated between the inside and outside of the toner cartridge, the other component parts, that is, the toner supply container 18 and the toner seal film 19 are broken, or elastically deformable before the bonding portion of both is broken. Is formed in. That is, the material is formed to have a lower rigidity than other constituent parts and an adhesive portion of those constituent parts, and a thinner wall thickness than the other constituent parts.

Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the bellows portion 24 is formed in the cap 22 among the components constituting the toner cartridge 16, so that even if a pressure difference occurs inside and outside the toner cartridge 16 due to a change in atmospheric pressure during transportation, Since the pressure difference can be absorbed by the elastic deformation of the bellows portion 24 of the cap 22,
It is possible to prevent the destruction of parts caused by the change in atmospheric pressure and the scattering of toner to the outside.

If the bellows portion 24 of the cap 22 is made thinner than the others, the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the toner cartridge 16 can be more effectively absorbed.

Here, since the bellows portion 24 of the cap 22 is elastically deformed and fitted into the toner filling port of the toner supply container 18,
High dimensional accuracy is not required. Also, a toner supply container
Regardless of the type of toner stored in 18 (difference in toner particle size, etc.), it is possible to prevent destruction of parts and toner scattering caused by changes in atmospheric pressure.

In any case, the bellows portion 24 of the cap 22 is less rigid than the other components, and the rigidity is lower than the adhesive portion of the toner replenishing container 18 and the toner seal film 19 in order to achieve the above effect. Is.

[Advantage of the Invention] According to the present invention, since the bellows portion which is elastically deformable is formed in the cap, even if a pressure difference occurs inside and outside the toner cartridge due to a change in atmospheric pressure during transportation, the pressure difference is reduced by the elasticity of the bellows portion. Since it can be absorbed by the deformation, it is possible to prevent the destruction of parts caused by the change in atmospheric pressure and the scattering of the toner to the outside.

Further, since the bellows portion has a concentric annular shape that meanders inward and outward from the center of the cap toward the flange portion, it can be accommodated within the thickness of the side wall of the toner supply container. Therefore, it is possible to accommodate a predetermined amount of toner while reducing the size.

Further, since the bellows portion of the cap is elastically deformed and fitted into the toner filling port of the toner supply container, high dimensional accuracy is not required. Further, it is possible to prevent the destruction of the parts and the toner scattering caused by the atmospheric pressure change regardless of the kind of the toner stored in the toner supply container (difference in toner particle size, etc.).

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B) are front views and sectional views showing a cap, and FIG. 3 is a schematic view showing an electrophotographic apparatus. 5 ... Toner, 14 ... Developing device main body, 16 ... Toner cartridge, 19 ... Toner seal member, 22 ... Cap.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A toner replenishing container having a sealed structure, which is detachably attached to a developing device main body and contains toner to be replenished into the developing device main body, and is detachably attached to a toner filling port of the toner replenishing container. A toner cartridge for an electrophotographic apparatus, wherein the cap has a concentric annular bellows portion meandering inward and outward from a center of the cap toward a flange portion.