JPH0743999A - Toner replenishing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the obstruction of the discharge of toner caused by the lump of half-solidified toner by attaching/removing a cap inside stopper to/from the toner discharge port of a toner housing container roughly horizontally held. CONSTITUTION:A cap inside stopper attaching/removing means 24 attaching/ removing the cap inside stopper 19 to/from the toner discharge port 15 of the toner housing container 3 held by a movable bracket 4, in accordance with its turning operation and holding the cap inside stopper 19 removed from the toner discharge port 15 in a position near the toner discharge port 15 is provided on the movable bracket 4 for roughly horizontally holding the toner housing container 3. Then, a spiral screw body 34 projecting toward the inside of the toner housing container 3 in a direction opposite a projecting part 21 is fixed on the cover surface part 20 of the cap inside stopper 19 and formed in a length dimension for extending the screw body 34 to the inside of the toner discharge port 15, in a state where the cap inside stopper 19 is removed from the toner discharge port 15 by the cap inside stopper attaching/removing means 24.

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 such as a copying machine or a facsimile in a substantially horizontal direction and axially rotates it to discharge the internal toner from a toner discharge port. , A toner replenishing device adapted to replenish toner to a developing section.

[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 internal toner is conveyed 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.

[0003]

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 mounted in the image forming apparatus. There is. For this reason, there is a risk that the toner will spill out from the toner discharge port in the open state 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 inside of the image forming apparatus. In particular, when the toner container is removed, the toner contained in the toner container is likely to be spilled due to the impact on the toner container.

If the image forming apparatus is not used for a long period of time or is used infrequently, semi-solidified toner lumps may be formed in the toner storage container. The dischargeability of toner from the inside deteriorates.

[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 detachably attached to the toner discharge port and held by the holding means. The cap inner plug is attached to and detached from the toner discharge port of the toner storage container, and the cap inner plug removing means is provided for holding the removed cap inner plug at a position close to the toner discharge port. And a screw body extending into the toner discharge port.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the distance between the screw body and the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port is set small, and the toner storage container is rotated in accordance with the rotation of the toner storage container. The screw body was formed in a direction in which the toner of No. 1 was conveyed in the direction to be ejected from the toner ejection port.

According to a third aspect of the invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, a plurality of convex portions or concave portions are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the invention, the inner cap of the cap is attached and detached by the inner cap attaching / detaching means to / from the toner discharge port of the toner container held in the substantially horizontal direction by the holding means. Therefore, when the toner storage container is held in the holding means or is removed from the holding means, the cap inner plug is attached to the toner discharge port, and the toner is prevented from spilling out from the toner discharge port. . Then, after the inner cap is removed, the toner storage container is rotationally driven by the rotation driving means, so that the toner in the toner storage container is ejected from the toner ejection port and supplied from the toner introduction portion to the developing portion. . Further, since the screw body provided on the cap inner plug held at a position close to the toner discharge port is removed from the toner discharge port by the cap inner plug removing means and extends into the toner discharge port,
Even if a semi-solidified toner lump is generated in the toner container, the lump is crushed by the screw body rotating relative to the toner discharge port when passing through the toner discharge port, and the toner is discharged from the toner discharge port. The toner is smoothly discharged.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, by setting the interval between the screw body and the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port to be small, the lump of toner passing through the toner discharge port is crushed into smaller pieces. Further, since the screw body is formed so as to convey the toner in the toner storage container in the direction of discharging the toner from the toner discharge port as the toner storage container rotates, the screw body and the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port are Even if the interval is small, the toner is smoothly discharged from the toner discharge port.

According to the third aspect of the invention, the semi-solidified toner mass that has entered the toner discharge port is in a state of being temporarily held by the convex portion or the concave portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port. Therefore, the crushing of the lump of toner by the screw body rotating relatively to the toner discharge port is promoted.

[0011]

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 a plain paper copying machine in a simplified manner, and FIG. 1 shows the structure of a toner replenishing unit in the plain paper copying machine. 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. The movable bracket 4 has a rotation driving means 7 for rotating the toner storage container 3 held 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.

On the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical container body 13 of the toner container 3, a spirally-wound spiral projection 14 is formed, and the toner is ejected to the center of the front end side of the container body 13. The toner discharge port 15 is formed. The spiral protrusion 14 is formed so as to convey the internal toner toward the toner ejection port 15 side as the toner storage container 3 rotates in the axial direction.
In addition, the toner discharge port 15 in the container body 13
A ring-shaped engagement protrusion 16 is formed on the outer peripheral portion on the side where the is formed, and by engaging with the engagement protrusion 16, the removal of the toner storage container 3 held by the movable bracket 4 is regulated. An engagement claw 17 is attached to the toner storage container stopper 12. In addition, the movable bracket 4 is provided with a toner introducing section 1 for supplying the toner discharged from the toner discharging port 15 to a developing section (not shown).
8 are provided. A cap inner plug 19 is detachably attached to the toner discharge port 15, and a cap 21 is formed on the cap inner plug 19 so as to project outward from the lid surface portion 20.

An engagement protrusion 22 is formed on the tip side of the container body 13 where the toner discharge port 15 is formed, and the engagement protrusion 22 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical rotation transmitting member 11. This tubular rotation transmission member 11 is engaged by engaging.
An engaging recess 23 for transmitting rotation from the toner storage container 3 to the toner storage container 3 is formed, and 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. Engaging protrusion 22 and engaging recess 2
And 3 are engaged.

Next, in the movable bracket 4, the cap inner plug is attached to the toner discharge port 15 of the toner storage container 3 held by the movable bracket 4 when the movable bracket 4 is rotated. There is provided a cap inner plug attaching / detaching means 24 for detaching 19 and holding the cap inner plug 19 removed from the toner ejection port 15 at a position close to the toner ejection port 15. The cap inner plug attaching / detaching means 24 includes a collet chuck 25 that picks up and separates the projection 21 and a cap inner plug 19 whose projection 21 is picked up by the collet chuck 25 together with the collet chuck 25 at the opening position. It is formed by a cam mechanism 26 that opens and closes the toner discharge port 15 by moving it to the closed position.

Here, the collet chuck 25 is a cylindrical core 27 slidably held by the boss portion 12a of the toner container stopper 12, and a shaft slidably fitted in the core 27. 28 and shaft 28
And a flexible grip portion 29 fixed to the tip side of the. Further, the cam mechanism 26 includes the step portion 12 b of the toner storage container stopper 12 and the core 2.
7, a conical coil spring 30 that is interposed between the core 27 and the toner storage container 3 side, is inserted between the flange portion 27a, and a roller 31 attached to the rear end side of the shaft 28; A guide cam portion 32 that guides the roller 31 when the pin is rotated about the pins 5 and 6 as a fulcrum.
And a bracket hinge 33 fixed to the fixed bracket 2.

Next, a spiral screw body 34 is fixed to the lid surface portion 20 of the cap inner plug 19 so as to project inwardly of the toner storage container 3 in a direction opposite to the projection portion 21. The screw body 34 is formed to have a length dimension that extends into the toner discharge port 15 when the cap inner plug 19 is removed from the toner discharge port 15 by the cap internal plug attaching / detaching means 24. The distance a between the screw body 34 and the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port 15 is set to a small size (1 to 6 mm), and the screw body 34 is rotated by the rotation of the toner storage container 3. The toner in the toner storage container 3 is formed so as to be conveyed in a direction to be ejected from the toner ejection port 15. A plurality of convex portions 35 extending parallel to the axis of the toner storage container 3 are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port 15.

In such a structure, first, a 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 shown 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 17 is engaged.
6 is engaged. Here, the toner storage container stopper 12
A cylindrical rotation transmission member 11 is rotatably held therein, and by inserting the front end side of the toner storage container 3 into the toner storage container stopper 12, the engagement convex portion 22 of the toner storage container 3 is tubular. It is engaged with the engagement recess 23 of the rotation transmission member 11. When the toner storage container 3 is held by the movable bracket 4, the cap inner plug 19 is attached, and the projection 21 of the cap inner plug 19 is provided on the collet chuck 25 as shown in FIG. The cap inner plug 19 is maintained in the closed state while entering between the knob portions 29.

Next, the movable bracket 4 is rotated about the pins 5 and 6 as a fulcrum to a position (toner supply position) indicated by a broken line in FIG. Then, with this rotation operation, the roller 31 moves along the guide cam portion 32 from the position shown in FIG. 3B to the position shown in FIG. 4B, and at the same time, the collet chuck 25 moves to the position shown in FIG. From the position shown in a) to FIG.
Slide to the position shown in (a). Here, when the shaft 28, which is a part of the collet chuck 25, and the knob 29 slide slightly toward the position of FIG. 4A, the outer periphery of the knob 29 comes into contact with the core 27 and Bends to
The knob 29 picks up the protrusion 21 of the cap inner plug 19. Then, the shaft 28 and the knob 29 are continuously arranged as shown in FIG.
By sliding toward the position of (a), the core 2
7 and the cap inner plug 19 pinched by the knob portion 29 also slide integrally to compress the conical coil spring 30, and eventually the cap inner plug 19 moves to the open position as shown in FIG. 4 (a). The toner discharge port 15 is opened, the toner storage container 3 is communicated with the toner introducing portion 18 via the toner discharge port 15, and the mounting of the toner storage container 3 is completed. 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 19 in advance, so that the toner is prevented from spilling from the toner discharge port 15 and the spilled toner is prevented. This prevents the operator's hands, clothes, and the movable bracket 4 from being soiled. Note that the cap inner plug 19 removed from the toner discharge port 15
Is held at a position close to the toner ejection port 15 as shown in FIG.

Next, copying will be carried out after the mounting of the toner storage 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 via the gear group 9 and the gear 10, and the engagement convex portion 22 and the engagement concave portion 23 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 guided by the spiral protrusion 14 and is gradually conveyed to the toner discharge port 15 side, and is then discharged from the toner discharge port 15. The toner ejected from the toner ejection port 15 passes through the toner dropping opening 36 formed in the toner storage container stopper 12, is supplied to the toner introducing section 18, and is further supplied to the developing section.

Here, in a state in which the cap inner plug 19 is removed from the toner discharge port 15 by the cap inner plug attaching / detaching means 24, as shown in FIGS. It extends into the discharge port 15. Therefore, when a lump of semi-solidified toner generated in the toner storage container 3 enters into the toner discharge port 15 by being conveyed by the spiral protrusion 14 accompanying the rotation of the toner storage container 3, this lump forms a convex portion. The toner is temporarily held by 35, and is sandwiched and crushed by the screw body 34 and the convex portion 35 that rotate relative to the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port 15. For this reason, the semi-solidified toner lumps form a gap 37 between the cap inner plug 19 and the toner discharge port 15.
It is prevented that the toner is clogged with the toner and the ejection of the toner from the toner ejection port 15 is hindered. Moreover, the screw body 34
However, as the toner storage container 3 rotates, the toner storage container 3
Since the internal toner is formed so as to be conveyed in the direction in which the toner is ejected from the toner ejection port 15, even if the distance between the screw body 34 and the inner peripheral surface of the toner ejection port 15 is small, the toner from the toner ejection port 15 can be removed. Discharge is performed smoothly.

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 rotation operation, the roller 31 moves from the position shown in FIG. 4B to the position shown in FIG. 3B along the guide cam portion 32, and at the same time, the shaft 28 and the knob portion 29. And slide together with the cap inner plug 19 from the position shown in FIG. 4A to the position shown in FIG. At this time, the conical coil spring 3
The core 27 urged by 0 also slides integrally, and eventually the cap inner plug 19 slides to the closed position as shown in FIG. 3A, whereby the toner discharge port 15 is closed. Further, the dimensions are set such that the shaft 28 and the knob portion 29 slide slightly even after the flange portion 27a of the core 27 comes into contact with the tip end portion of the toner discharge port 15 and the slide is restricted. Flange 27a
Immediately after the toner comes into contact with the tip of the toner discharge port 15,
When the projection 9 is bent outward, the projection 2 is formed by the knob 29.
The picked state of 1 is released. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner discharge port 15 from being left open when the toner storage container 3 that has run out of toner is removed from the movable bracket 4. Therefore, the toner storage container 3
When the toner is removed, the toner slightly remaining in the toner storage container 3 does not spill out to the outside, and it is possible to prevent the spilled toner from soiling the worker's hand, clothes, and the movable bracket 4. .

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 15 side, or the container main body has the toner discharge port 15 downward. By mounting it so that it is slightly inclined so that the toner is conveyed with rotation, the spiral protrusion 14
Is performed in substantially the same manner as in the case of forming.

Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been given by taking the case where the convex portion 35 is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port 15 as an example, but instead of the convex portion 35, the shaft of the toner container 3 is replaced. You may form the several recessed part extended parallel to a core.

[0024]

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. A cap inner plug is detachably attached to the toner ejection port of the toner storage container held by the holding means, and the cap inner plug removed is close to the toner ejection port. Since the internal cap removal / attachment means for holding the toner at the fixed position is provided, when the toner storage container is held in the holding means or is removed from the holding means, the toner discharge port is not covered by the cap. It is possible to prevent the toner from spilling out from the toner discharge port due to the attached state, and thus to prevent the spilled toner from soiling the worker's hands, clothes and holding means. In addition, since the screw body extending into the toner discharge port is provided in the cap inner plug, even if a semi-solidified toner mass occurs in the toner storage container, this mass passes through the toner discharge port. In this case, the lump can be crushed by the screw body rotating relative to the toner discharge port, and therefore, the toner discharge can be prevented from being hindered by the lump of semi-solidified toner. This has the effect that the toner can be smoothly discharged from the discharge port.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, as described above, in the first aspect of the invention, the gap between the screw body and the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port is set to be small, and the toner container is rotated. Since the screw body is formed in the direction in which the toner in the toner storage container is conveyed in the direction in which it is discharged from the toner discharge port, it is possible to crush the lumps of toner passing through the toner discharge port more finely, and the screw is used. Since the body is formed so as to convey the toner in the toner storage container in the direction in which it is discharged from the toner discharge port as the toner storage container rotates, the distance between the screw body and the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port is small. However, there is an effect that the toner can be smoothly discharged from the toner discharge port.

As described above, the third aspect of the invention is such that, in the first or second aspect of the invention, since a plurality of convex portions or concave portions are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the toner ejection port, the toner ejection port enters the toner ejection port. Since the semi-solidified toner lump is temporarily held by the convex portion or the concave portion and the held toner lump is crushed by the screw body, the crushing of the toner lump can be promoted. .

[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 attaching / detaching 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. It is a figure.

FIG. 4 is a view showing a cap inner cap attaching / detaching means in a state in which a movable bracket is rotated to a toner replenishment position,
(A) is a vertical cross-sectional front view, and (b) is a plan view showing a part of the cross section.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing a state in which a cap inner plug is removed from a toner discharge port in a partial cross section.

FIG. 6 is a side view thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 Toner Storage Container 4 Holding Means 7 Rotation Driving Means 13 Container Main Body 15 Toner Discharge Port 18 Toner Introducing Section 19 Cap Inner Plug 24 Cap Inner Cap Removing / Installing Means 34 Screw Body 35 Convex Section

Claims (3)

[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 the axial direction thereof, a cap inner plug is detachably attached to the toner discharge port, and the holding And a cap inner plug removing means for holding the removed cap inner plug to the toner discharge port of the toner storage container held by the means at a position close to the toner discharge port. A toner replenishing device, wherein a screw body extending into the toner discharge port is provided on the cap inner plug. 2. The distance between the screw body and the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port is set small, and the toner in the toner storage container is conveyed in a direction to be discharged from the toner discharge port as the toner storage container rotates. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the screw body is formed in a direction. 3. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of convex portions or concave portions are formed on the inner peripheral surface of the toner discharge port.