JPH0744005A - Jig for replenishing toner and toner cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to surely charge toners into a developing device, to simplify the structure of the replenishing port of the developing device and to prevent the leakage of the toners by providing the developing device with a pushing up device for pushing up a valve member to the opening position of a toner outlet. CONSTITUTION:This jig 3 for replenishing the toners is provided with a cover 10 for covering the opening 4 of a toner container 2 and the valve member 12 for opening and closing the toner outlet 11 formed at this cover 10. The cover 10 is formed to a cylindrical shape, of which the diametral direction size decreases gradually from one end toward the other. The inner periphery at one end of the cover is attachably and detachably fitted to the outer periphery of the jig juncture 2a of the toner container 2. The opening at the other end thereof is formed as the toner outlet 11. The valve member 12 has a body part 16 having a hollow hemispherical shape and a cylindrical chute part 17 extending from the end face of the body part 16. The developing device is provided with the pushing up part 20 for pushing up the valve member 12 to the opening position of the toner outlet 11.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner replenishing jig and a toner cartridge for replenishing toner to a developing device such as a copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A toner used as a developer for electrophotography is colored fine powder of a micron unit. Therefore, when toner is replenished in a toner storage tank of a developing device, if it is scattered or leaked into the air, copying It will contaminate the inside and outside of machines, the skin of workers, and clothing. In order to solve such a problem, a disposable toner cartridge has been conventionally used.

For example, a toner cartridge for replenishing toner by sealing the toner outlet of a cartridge body containing toner with a sealing member and peeling off the sealing member after mounting it on a developing device (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 59-937).
No. 41, JP-A-3-56479), a toner replenishing port opening / closing mechanism is provided in the toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing device, and the toner replenishing port is opened by rotating or moving the toner cartridge mounted therein, and the toner is replenished. Toner cartridge for replenishment (JP-A-55-134875,
JP-A-60-130772, JP-A-2-56667
No. 2) is proposed. Further, as shown in (1) of FIG. 10, a valve member 103 for opening and closing the toner outlet 102 formed in the toner container 101 is provided, and a push-up portion 104 is provided at the center of the supply port of the developing device, and the toner container 101 is provided. 10 is lowered along the guide surface 107 of the copying machine or the like, the push-up portion 104 is inserted into the central hole 103a of the valve member 103 as shown in (2) of FIG. Valve member 1 against elastic force
A toner cartridge that pushes 03 to the open position of the toner outlet 102 has been proposed (JP-A-60-8087).
No. 8).

[0004]

A conventional toner cartridge that replenishes toner by peeling off a sealing member that seals the toner outlet has a troublesome peeling operation, and a troublesome operation for preventing toner scattering. However, there is a possibility that the toner remaining when the used toner cartridge is removed will fall out.

A conventional toner cartridge which replenishes toner by rotation or movement of the toner cartridge has a complicated structure of the toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing device, which makes the toner cartridge expensive, and after the toner cartridge is mounted on the developing device. Troublesome operations such as rotation and movement are required, and further, there is a possibility that toner attached to the toner cartridge mounting portion of the developing device may fall off during the rotation and movement.

A valve member 103 for opening and closing the toner outlet 102.
The conventional toner cartridge provided with is expensive to manufacture, and thus it is uneconomical to dispose of it.
Further, since the push-up portion 104 needs to be provided at the center of the replenishing port 105 of the developing device, if the placement accuracy of the push-up portion 104 is poor, the valve member 103 cannot be pushed up completely, which hinders toner replenishment. The structure of the supply port of the developing device becomes complicated. Further, since it is necessary to attach the valve member 103, the spring 106 and the like inside the toner container 101 whose one end is closed, the assembly is difficult.

An object of the present invention is to provide a toner replenishing jig and a toner cartridge which can solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art.

[0008]

A first aspect of the present invention is a toner replenishing jig for replenishing toner to a developing device, the cover being detachable from a toner container and capable of covering an opening of the toner container. A valve member formed on the cover for opening and closing the toner outlet is provided, and the pushing-up portion for pushing the valve member to the open position of the toner outlet is provided in the developing device. A cylindrical guide portion extending from the peripheral portion of the toner outlet toward the outside of the cover is provided, the valve member has a cylindrical chute portion inserted into the guide portion, and the push-up portion has a cylindrical shape. There is a toner replenishing port of the developing device, and the chute part is pushed up by inserting the push-up part into the guide part, and there is a toner introducing port for introducing the toner inside the chute part when the toner outlet is opened. It is preferable that the toner is formed on the chute portion and the toner is introduced into the toner replenishing port through the chute portion. The valve member has a main body portion that can be brought into contact with and separated from the peripheral portion of the toner outlet, the chute portion extends from the main body portion, and the axial direction is provided between the main body portion and the toner introduction port formed in the chute portion. It is preferable that the distance between the outer circumference of the chute portion and the inner circumference of the guide portion in the axial direction be such that the toner can be sealed.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the toner container is provided with a valve member that opens and closes a toner outlet communicating with the toner container, and a push-up portion for pushing the valve member to the open position of the toner outlet is provided in the developing device. In the cartridge, a cylindrical guide portion extending from the peripheral portion of the toner outlet toward the outside of the container is provided, the valve member has a cylindrical chute portion inserted into the guide portion, and the pushing-up portion is A toner which is cylindrical and constitutes the toner supply port of the developing device, and the chute part is pushed up by inserting the push-up part into the guide part, and the toner is introduced into the chute part when the toner outlet is opened. The introduction port is formed in the chute portion, and the toner is introduced into the toner supply port through the chute portion. The valve member has a main body portion that can be brought into contact with and separated from the peripheral portion of the toner outlet, the chute portion extends from the main body portion, and the axial direction is provided between the main body portion and the toner introduction port formed in the chute portion. Is preferably provided, and the radial distance between the outer circumference of the chute portion and the inner circumference of the guide portion in the axial direction is preferably dimensioned to seal the toner.

[0010]

According to the toner replenishing jig and the toner cartridge of the present invention, the toner outlet can be opened and the toner can be replenished to the developing device only by pushing up the valve member for closing the toner outlet by the pushing-up member of the developing device. So
No complicated feeding operation is required. Further, when the toner outlet is closed by the valve member when the toner is removed from the developing device, it is possible to prevent the residual toner from falling off. In addition, by inserting the cylindrical push-up portion that constitutes the toner supply port of the developing device into the cylindrical guide portion, the chute portion of the valve member is pushed up, and the toner passes from the toner outlet through the toner inlet and inside the chute portion. The toner can be introduced into the toner replenishing port from the chute. That is, the valve member can be surely pushed up by the pushing-up portion to feed the toner into the toner replenishing port, and since the pushing-up portion constitutes the toner replenishing port, a dedicated member for pushing up the valve member is provided in the developing device. It is not necessary and the structure of the toner supply port does not become complicated. The toner can be sealed between the main body of the valve member and the toner introduction port formed in the chute, so that the toner is discharged unless the valve member is pushed up by the axial distance. Not,
Toner leakage can be reliably prevented.

Since the toner replenishing jig of the present invention can be attached to and detached from the toner container, even if the toner container is disposable, it can be reused for a new toner container, which is economical. In addition, the assembly of the cover and the valve member,
It can be done easily with the cover removed from the toner container.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

The toner cartridge 1 shown in FIG. 4 comprises a toner container 2 and a toner replenishing jig 3.
The toner container 2 has a cylindrical shape, and as shown in (1) of FIG. 1, an upper portion thereof is an opening 4 surrounded by an annular jig connecting portion 2a, and the opening 4 is the jig connecting portion 2a. It is sealed by a seal member 5 which is peelably attached.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toner replenishing jig 3 includes a cover 10 that covers the opening 4 of the toner container 2 and a valve member 12 that opens and closes a toner outlet 11 formed in the cover 10. Prepare The cover 10 is tubular,
The radial dimension gradually decreases from one end to the other end, the inner circumference of one end of which is detachably fitted to the outer circumference of the jig connecting portion 2a of the toner container 2, and the opening of the other end serves as the toner outlet 11. Has been done. The cover 10 and the jig connecting portion 2a may be fitted to each other via a screw. A cylindrical guide portion 15 extending from the periphery of the toner outlet 11 toward the outside of the cover is provided, and the tip of this guide portion 15 is closed by a cap 26.

As shown in FIG. 3, the valve member 12 is
It has a hollow hemispherical main body 16 and a cylindrical chute 17 extending from the end surface of the main body 16. The outer peripheral edge of the end surface of the main body 16 is larger than that of the toner outlet 11, and the chute portion 17 is axially movably inserted into the guide portion 15, whereby the outer peripheral edge of the main body portion 16 is formed. Can be contacted with and separated from the peripheral portion of the toner outlet 11 in the cover 10. A spring 31 is hooked on a pair of hooks 30 mounted inside the cover 10, and the outer peripheral edge of the main body portion 16 is pressed against the peripheral portion of the toner outlet 11 by the elastic force of the spring 31. Will be closed. The radial distance between the outer circumference of the chute portion 17 and the inner circumference of the guide portion 15 is set to a size capable of sealing the toner.

A push-up portion 20 for pushing the valve member 12 to the open position of the toner outlet 11 is provided in the developing device. That is, as shown in (2) of FIG. 1, the push-up portion 20 has a cylindrical shape and constitutes the toner supply port 21 of the developing device, and as shown in (3) of FIG. By inserting 20 into the guide portion 15, the chute portion 17 is pushed up against the elastic force of the spring 31, and this pushing up separates the outer peripheral edge of the main body portion 16 and the peripheral portion of the toner outlet 11 from the toner outlet 11. be opened. The radial distance between the outer circumference of the push-up portion 20 and the inner circumference of the guide portion 15 is
The size is such that toner can be sealed. The toner outlet 1
When the toner container 1 is opened, the toner 19 contained in the toner container 2 can be introduced into the chute portion 17,
A toner introduction port 18 is formed in the chute portion 17.

In order to replenish the developing device with the toner 19 having the above-described structure, first, the seal member 5 for closing the opening 4 of the toner container 2 is peeled off, and then the jig connection portion 2a of the toner container 2 is replenished with toner. Fit the cover 10 of the jig 3 for
This constitutes the toner cartridge 1. Next, the cap 26 that closes the tip of the guide portion 15 of the toner replenishing jig 3 is removed, and the push-up portion 20 that constitutes the toner replenishing port 21 of the developing device is inserted into the guide portion 15 to insert the valve member 12. Push up the chute 17 of the
9 is introduced from the toner outlet 11 into the inside of the chute portion 17 through the toner introduction port 18, and is introduced from the chute portion 17 into the toner supply port 21.

That is, the toner outlet 11 can be opened to replenish toner to the developing device simply by pushing up the valve member 12 for closing the toner outlet 11 by the pushing-up portion 20 of the developing device, so that no complicated replenishing operation is required. Become. Further, the valve member 12 can be surely pushed up by the pushing-up portion 20 to feed the toner into the toner replenishing port 21, and moreover, since the pushing-up portion 20 constitutes the toner replenishing port 21, the valve member 12 is exclusively pushed up. It is not necessary to provide this member in the developing device, and the structure of the toner supply port 21 does not become complicated. Further, when the toner cartridge 1 is removed from the developing device, the valve member 12 moves due to the elastic force of the spring 30 to close the toner outlet 11, so that the toner does not spill.

Since the toner replenishing jig 3 having the above-mentioned configuration is attachable to and detachable from the toner container 2, it is economical because it can be reused for a new toner container even if the toner container 2 is disposable. Further, the cover 10, the valve member 12, the hook 30,
The assembly with the spring 31 can be easily performed since the cover 10 can be removed from the toner container 2.

5 and 6 show a first modification of the present invention.
The difference from the above embodiment is that an axial distance D is provided between the main body portion 16 of the valve member 12 and the toner introduction port 18 formed in the chute portion 17, and the outer circumference of the chute portion 17 between the axial directions. The radial distance between the inner circumference of the guide portion 15 and the inner circumference of the guide portion 15 is a size capable of sealing the toner 19. The other configurations are similar to those of the above-described embodiment. This allows
The toner 19 is not discharged unless the valve member 12 is pushed up by the axial distance D, and the leakage of the toner 19 can be reliably prevented.

FIG. 7 shows a second modification of the present invention. The difference from the above embodiment is that an annular recess 40 is formed around the toner outlet 11 and the main body 1 of the valve member 12 is formed in this recess 40.
When the outer peripheral edge of 6 is fitted, the toner outlet 11 is closed. Further, the cover 10 is made of a material such as synthetic resin having elasticity, and the push-up portion 20 makes the chute portion 1
When 7 is pushed up, the periphery of the recess 40 is deformed, so that the main body 16 is disengaged from the recess 40, and the toner outlet 11
Is opened. Since the pushed up valve member 12 descends due to gravity when the toner cartridge 1 is removed, the spring 31 for pushing the valve member 12 is not provided.
The other configurations are similar to those of the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 8 shows a third modification of the present invention. The difference from the above embodiment is that the peripheral portion of the toner outlet 11 and the valve member 12 are different.
The annular bodies 50 and 51 are attached to the main body 16 of the. At least one of the annular bodies 50 and 51 may be a permanent magnet, and the other may be a permanent magnet or an inorganic substance attracted to a magnetic force. For example, one of the annular bodies is an annular plastic magnet and the other is An annular plastic in which magnetic powder such as magnetite, ferrite powder, iron powder, etc. is dispersed. When the annular outlets 50 and 51 are attracted to each other, the toner outlet 11 is closed, and when the push-up portion 20 pushes up the chute portion 17, the annular bodies 50 and 51 are pushed.
Are separated from each other and the toner outlet 11 is opened. Since the valve member 12 that has been pushed up descends due to gravity and magnetic force, the spring 31 that pushes the valve member 12 is not provided. The other configurations are similar to those of the above-described embodiment.

FIG. 9 shows a fourth modification of the present invention. The difference from the above-described embodiment is that the radial dimension of the cover 10 gradually decreases from one end to the other end in the above-described embodiment, whereas in this modification, the radial dimension is maximized between both ends. It is supposed to become gradually smaller toward
The openings in both ends have the same radial dimension. The other configurations are similar to those of the above-described embodiment. This allows the cover 1
Any of the 0 openings at both ends can be used as the toner outlet 11.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and modifications. For example, the guide portion, the chute portion, and the pushing-up portion may have a rectangular tube shape.

[0025]

According to the toner replenishing jig and the toner cartridge of the present invention, the toner can be surely charged into the developing device, the structure of the replenishing port of the developing device can be simplified, and the toner leakage can be eliminated. Further, the toner replenishing jig is reusable, economical, and easy to assemble.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view for explaining the operation of a toner cartridge according to an embodiment of the present invention

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a toner replenishing jig according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a valve member of the toner replenishing jig according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a toner cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a valve member of a toner replenishing jig according to a first modified example of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view for explaining the operation of the toner cartridge of the first modified example of the invention.

7A is a cross-sectional view of a toner replenishing jig according to a second modification of the present invention, and FIG. 7B is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

8A is a sectional view of a toner replenishing jig according to a third modification of the present invention, and FIG. 8B is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a toner replenishing jig of a fourth modified example of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view for explaining the operation of the conventional toner cartridge of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toner cartridge 2 Toner container 3 Toner supply jig 10 Cover 11 Toner outlet 12 Valve member 15 Guide part 16 Main body part 17 Chute part 18 Toner introduction port 19 Toner 20 Push up part 21 Toner supply port

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A toner replenishing jig for replenishing toner to a developing device, the cover being detachable from a toner container and capable of covering the opening of the toner container, and opening and closing a toner outlet formed in this cover. A toner replenishing jig, wherein the developing device is provided with a push-up portion that pushes up the valve member to the open position of the toner outlet. 2. A tubular guide portion extending from the peripheral portion of the toner outlet toward the outside of the cover is provided, and the valve member has a tubular chute portion inserted into the guide portion, and the push-up is performed. The part is cylindrical and constitutes a toner supply port of the developing device, and the chute part is pushed up by inserting the push-up part into the guide part, and the toner is introduced into the chute part when the toner outlet is opened. The toner replenishing jig according to claim 1, wherein the toner introducing port is formed in the chute portion, and the toner is introduced into the toner replenishing port through the chute portion. 3. The valve member has a main body that can be brought into and out of contact with a peripheral portion of a toner outlet, the chute extends from the main body, and the main body and a toner introduction port formed in the chute. 3. The toner replenishment according to claim 2, wherein an axial gap is provided between the two, and the radial gap between the outer circumference of the chute portion and the inner circumference of the guide portion in the axial direction has a size capable of sealing the toner. Jig. 4. A toner cartridge comprising: a toner container; and a valve member that opens and closes a toner outlet communicating with the toner container, and a push-up portion that pushes the valve member to an open position of the toner outlet is provided in the developing device. A cylindrical guide portion extending from the periphery of the toner outlet toward the outside of the container is provided, the valve member has a cylindrical chute portion inserted into this guide portion, and the push-up portion has a cylindrical shape. The toner supply port of the developing device, and the chute part is pushed up by inserting the push-up part into the guide part, and the toner introducing port for introducing the toner into the chute part when the toner outlet is opened shoots. Formed on the
A toner cartridge in which toner is supplied to a toner supply port through the chute portion. 5. The valve member has a main body that can be brought into contact with and separated from a peripheral portion of a toner outlet, the chute extends from the main body, and the main body and a toner introduction port formed in the chute. 5. The toner according to claim 4, wherein a gap in the axial direction is provided between the toner particles, and a radial distance between the outer circumference of the chute portion and the inner circumference of the guide portion in the axial direction is set to a size capable of sealing the toner. cartridge.