JPH08272204A - Toner receiving container, toner cartridge, process cartridge and image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To increase a supplied toner quantity, while suppressing the increase of the scale of a process cartridge and to easily load a toner cartridge in the process cartridge. CONSTITUTION: A toner receiving container 23 is formed into a nearly triangle prism shape and molded so as to project the sidewall 23b of an end part in a longitudinal direction in the interior of a container main body, together with a flange 23d1 . The toner receiving container 23 is constituted so that it is easily folded with small force, when a barrel part 23a is compressed. The container 23 is held by the upper and lower guiding plates and side plate of the toner cartridge and when the lower guiding plate is pressed, the container 23 is folded at the same time when the side plate is folded, to obtain small volume.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner storage container, a toner cartridge including the toner storage container, a process cartridge to which toner is supplied by the toner cartridge, and an image forming apparatus to which the process cartridge is detachable.

Here, the image forming apparatus includes, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, an LED printer, a laser beam printer, etc.), an electrophotographic facsimile machine, an electrophotographic word processor and the like.

Further, as the process cartridge, a charging means, a developing means or a cleaning means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. . Also, at least one of the charging means, the developing means, and the cleaning means, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge so as to be attachable to and detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus. Further, it means that at least the developing means and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally made into a cartridge so as to be attachable to and detachable from the main body of the image forming apparatus.

[0004]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus using an electrophotographic image forming process, an electrophotographic photosensitive member and process means acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is used to form an image. A process cartridge system that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus body is adopted. According to this process cartridge, the maintenance of the apparatus can be performed by the user himself without resorting to a serviceman, so that the operability can be markedly improved. Therefore, this process cartridge system is widely used in image forming apparatuses.

On the other hand, in this process cartridge system, there is known a process cartridge capable of supplying toner (for example, Japanese Patent Publication No. 03-56474 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-186375).

[0006] Here, Japanese Patent Publication No. 03-56474 describes a process cartridge in which the operator can recognize the number of times of toner replenishment.

Further, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 02-186375 discloses a process cartridge in which a plurality of toner supply containers can be inserted into the space of the process cartridge.

Any of the above-mentioned conventional techniques is very effective in a process cartridge that can replenish toner.

[0009]

The present invention is a further development of the above-mentioned prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner storage container which can suppress an increase in the size of the process cartridge and can increase the amount of supplied toner in a process cartridge for supplying toner from a plurality of toner cartridges. Toner cartridge with container,
And a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus including the process cartridge.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process cartridge for replenishing toner from a plurality of toner cartridges, wherein the toner cartridge can be easily attached to the process cartridge with a small force. A toner cartridge including a toner container, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus including the process cartridge.

[0012]

The above object can be achieved by a toner container according to the present invention, a toner cartridge including the toner container, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus including the process cartridge. . In summary, the present invention relates to a toner storage container including an opening for toner replenishment, a container body for storing toner, and a seal member for sealing the opening, wherein the container body is compressed. A toner storage container characterized by being able to be reduced in volume.

Preferably, the surface of the container body that is crushed during compression is molded so as to project inside the container body. Preferably, the surface of the container body that collapses during compression is
It is a side wall at the longitudinal end of the container body. It is preferable that the container body has a substantially triangular or fan-shaped cross-section, and both side surfaces of the opening are compressed toward the inside of the container body. Preferably, the material of the container body is polypropylene, polyethylene, vinyl chloride,
Or it is nylon. The wall thickness of the portion of the container body that is compressed and deformed is preferably 0.1 mm to 1 mm. It is preferable that the container body is formed by vacuum forming.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in a toner cartridge provided with a toner storage container and holding means for holding the toner storage container from the outside, the toner storage container is compressed via the holding means. As a result, the volume of the container main body of the toner storage container is reduced, and a toner cartridge is provided.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the electrophotographic photosensitive member acts on the electrophotographic photosensitive member in the process cartridge which can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus main body and can be supplied with toner by the toner cartridge. Process means, toner storage means for storing toner used for developing the latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and toner supply to the toner storage means provided in the toner storage means For opening the toner cartridge, and a toner cartridge mounting means provided in the toner storing means. The toner cartridge mounted in the toner cartridge mounting means includes a toner storage container for storing toner and the toner storage container. Holding means for holding the storage container, and the toner storage container is reduced in volume through the holding means. Process cartridge is provided, wherein.

Further, according to another aspect of the present invention, in an image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge can be attached and detached and which forms an image on a recording medium, (a) an electrophotographic photoreceptor and the electrophotographic photoreceptor And a toner storing means for storing toner used for developing the latent image formed on the electrophotographic photosensitive member,
An opening / closing member that is provided in the toner storing means and that can be opened to supply toner to the toner storing means, and a toner cartridge mounting means that is provided in the toner storing means are provided. The mounted toner cartridge has a toner storage container for storing toner and a holding means for holding the toner storage container, and the process cartridge in which the volume of the toner storage container is reduced via the holding means is removed. There is provided an image forming apparatus comprising: a mounting unit for mounting the recording medium so that the recording medium can be mounted thereon, and (b) a conveying unit for conveying the recording medium.

The image forming apparatus is preferably an electrophotographic copying machine. Further, according to another aspect, it is preferable that the image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic printer.

[0018]

EXAMPLES Hereinafter, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus according to the present invention,
The process cartridge and the toner cartridge will be described with reference to the drawings.

First, an embodiment of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus to which a process cartridge constructed according to the present invention can be mounted will be described with reference to FIGS.

As a sequence of explanation, a schematic structure of the image forming apparatus and the process cartridge will be explained, and then a housing of the process cartridge will be explained.

{Overall Configuration} This image forming apparatus A is shown in FIG.
2 and FIG. 23, it has optical means 1 for scanning the light from the laser light source emitted according to the image information with the rotating polygon mirror 1a and irradiating it through the lens 1b and the reflection mirror 1c. A light image based on image information is emitted from the optical unit 1 to form a latent image on the photoconductor drum 7 which is an electrophotographic photoconductor, and the latent image is developed by the developing unit 9 to form a toner image.

In synchronism with the formation of the toner image, the recording medium 2 is reversely conveyed from the sheet feeding cassette 3a by the conveying means 3 including the pickup roller 3b, the pair of conveying rollers 3c and 3d, the pair of registration rollers 3e, and the process cartridge. B
In the image forming unit formed as a cartridge, the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 7 is transferred to the recording medium 2 by applying a voltage to the transfer roller 4 serving as a transfer unit.

Further, the fixing means 5 is composed of a fixing roller 5b having a built-in heater 5a while guiding the recording medium 2 after the toner image transfer by a guide member 3f, and a driving roller 5c for pressing and conveying the recording medium 2 against the roller 5b. And the transferred toner image is fixed on the recording medium 2. And this recording medium 2
Is conveyed by the discharge roller pair 3g, 3h, 3i, and the reverse path 3
It is discharged to the discharge part 6 through j. Regarding the discharge, the swingable flapper 3k may be operated so that the discharge roller pair 3m directly discharges without passing through the reverse conveyance path 3j.

On the other hand, in the process cartridge B constituting the image forming section, as shown in FIGS. 24 and 25, the photosensitive drum 7 having a photosensitive layer is rotated, and the surface thereof is charged to the charging roller 8 which is a charging means. It is configured so that it is uniformly charged by applying a voltage, the optical image from the optical means 1 is exposed to the photosensitive drum 7 through the exposure section to form a latent image, and the latent image is developed by the developing means 9.

The developing means 9 sends out the toner in the toner storage portion 9a by the toner feeding member 9b, rotates the developing roller 9c having a fixed magnet built therein, and at the same time, the developing blade 9
A toner layer to which a triboelectric charge is applied by d is formed on the surface of the developing roller 9c, and the toner is transferred to the photoconductor drum 7 according to the latent image to form a toner image and visualize it.

After the voltage of the opposite polarity to the toner image is applied to the transfer roller 4 to transfer the toner image to the recording medium 2, the cleaning blade 10a scrapes off the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 7 and collects the waste toner. Residual toner on the photoconductor drum 7 is removed by the cleaning means 10 collecting in 10b to prepare for the next step.

Each component such as the photosensitive drum 7 is housed in a housing constituted by connecting the toner container 11 and the developing frame body 12 and the cleaning frame body 13 to form a cartridge. The process cartridge B is detachably attached to the cartridge attaching means provided in the apparatus main body 14.

When the opening / closing member 15 is opened, the cartridge mounting means is provided with a cartridge mounting space as shown in FIGS. 26 and 27, and the cartridge mounting member 16 is mounted on the left and right inner side surfaces of the apparatus main body 14. A guide portion 16a for inserting the process cartridge B is provided facing the left and right guide members 16. Insert the process cartridge B along the guide portion 16a,
The process cartridge B is mounted on the image forming apparatus A by closing the opening / closing member 15.

{Construction of Housing} The process cartridge B according to this embodiment has the toner container 1 as described above.
1. The developing frame body 12 and the cleaning frame body 13 are combined to form a housing. The configuration will be described below.

As shown in FIG. 24, the toner container 11 is provided with a toner accommodating portion 9a and a toner feeding member 9b.
Is installed. Further, the developing roller 9c is provided on the developing device frame 12.
Further, a developing blade 9d is attached, and a stirring member 9e for circulating toner in the developing chamber is rotatably attached near the developing roller 9c. Then, the toner container 11 and the developing frame 12 are welded together to form an integral developing unit.

Further, each member of the photosensitive drum 7, the charging roller 8 and the cleaning means 10 is attached to the cleaning frame 13, and the process cartridge B is further attached to the main body 14 of the apparatus.
The photoconductor drum 7 is covered with the drum shutter member 18 when it is removed, and a drum shutter member 18 for protecting the photoconductor drum 7 is attached to form a cleaning unit.

By connecting the developing unit and the cleaning unit, the process cartridge B
Is configured. Therefore, cover members (not shown) for rotatably supporting both ends of the developing roller 9c are attached to both sides in the longitudinal direction of the developing device frame 12, and the tips of the arm portions 19 formed in the cover member are As shown in FIGS. 28 and 29, a rotary shaft 20 is provided (FIGS. 28 and 29 show only one side).

On the other hand, recesses 21 for positioning and locking the rotary shaft 20 are provided at two positions on both sides in the longitudinal direction of the cleaning frame 13. By inserting the rotary shaft 20 into the concave portion 21 and screwing the coupling member 22 having the convex portion 22a to the cleaning frame body 13, the developing unit and the cleaning unit are coupled so as to be rotatable around the rotary shaft 20. Then, the developing roller 9c is pressed against the photosensitive drum 7 by the weight of the developing unit.

At this time, by pressing the developing frame 12 downward by the compression spring 22b attached to the connecting member 22, the developing roller 9c is surely pressed against the photosensitive drum 7. Therefore, by attaching spacer rings (not shown) to both ends of the developing roller 9c in the longitudinal direction, the rings are pressed against the photosensitive drum 7, and the photosensitive drum 7 and the developing roller 9c are opposed to each other with a constant interval.

As shown in FIG. 25, the process cartridge B is provided with a lid member 44 for opening and closing its opening, and the lid member 44 is provided with a grip portion 50 for facilitating its opening and closing operation. It is provided at approximately the center. Further, as will be described later in detail, when the toner cartridge is attached to the process cartridge B and the lid member 44 is closed, the tear tape grip 30 for performing the opening operation for supplying the toner of the toner cartridge is provided outside the process cartridge B. Overhangs.

A locking means 52 for locking the lid member 44 is provided near the grip portion 50 when the lid member 44 is closed. The lock can be released, which allows the opening movement of the lid member 44.

Further, on the side of the process cartridge B, there are guides 54, 5 for mounting on the image forming apparatus main body.
6 is provided.

Next, an embodiment of the toner cartridge C attached to the process cartridge B according to the present invention will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the toner cartridge C has an approximately triangular prism shape, and has an upper guide plate 24 and a lower guide, which are holding means for holding a toner storage container 23 containing toner therein. Plate 25 and upper and lower guide plates 2
Side plates 26, 26 of substantially triangular shape for connecting both ends of 4, 25
It has a configuration sandwiched between.

As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the toner storage container 23 is formed in a substantially triangular prism shape, and has a V-shaped body portion 23a for storing toner, and side wall portions 23b located at both longitudinal ends of the body portion 23a. , A toner discharge opening 23c corresponding to a V-shaped opening, a flange 23d provided all around the opening 23c, and a sealing member described later for sealing the opening 23c. Has been done.

As described above, the toner storage container 23 of this embodiment has a substantially triangular prism shape. After the toner is supplied, the V-shaped body portion 23a is laterally pressed and compressed, and the side wall portion 23b is formed. The side wall portion 23b and its flange 23d ₁ are projected inside the body portion 23a so as to be surely folded inside the body portion 23a (FIG. 6). In other words, the central portion of the flange 23d ₁ of the side wall portion 23b and the side wall portion 23b
The central portion, that is, the portion corresponding to the vertical line extending from the apex of the triangular side wall portion 23b is recessed inside the body portion 23a. Therefore, when the toner storage container 23 is viewed from the opening 23c side, both side walls of the toner storage container 23 have a substantially M shape, as shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, a soft material such as polypropylene, polyethylene, vinyl chloride, nylon, etc. is used so that the toner can be more reliably compressed with a small pressing force, and the toner container is vacuum molded to further reduce the wall thickness. 23 was molded. Specifically, a polyethylene / polypropylene laminated sheet having a thickness of 0.6 mm was used for molding, and the molded product had a wall thickness of 0.2 to 0.6 mm. Note that in the wall thickness of the molded article, the side wall portion 23b and the flange 23d ₁ that compresses to crushed deformation to easily compressed with a small force, it is desirable in the range of 0.1~1.0mm . That is, if the wall thickness is smaller than 0.1 mm, pinholes are likely to occur in the container body, and toner leakage may occur. Also, when it becomes larger than 1 mm,
There is a tendency that the compressive strength increases and it becomes difficult to compress.

By having the above-mentioned structure, it is possible to easily and surely compress and fold with a small force.

The opening 23c of the toner storage container 23
Is sealed by fixing a sealing member to the flange 23c by means such as adhesion or welding.

The sealing member may be a simple easy peel film as used in the conventional toner container, but in the present embodiment, the purpose is to reduce the strength at the time of opening, that is, to facilitate the opening. A tear tape unit as shown in FIG. 5 is applied. The tear tape unit includes a cover film 27 that covers the opening 23c and a cover film 2
7 through a tear line 27a, opening 23c
Tape 28 that covers a part (opening forming portion) in the longitudinal direction of the
The tear tape 28 is fixed to _one flange 23d ₁ and then folded back in the opposite direction.
At the time of unsealing, by pulling the tip of the folded portion 28a of the tear tape 28, the cover film 27 is torn along the tear line 27a of the cover film 27 and peeled off from the flange 23d.
The opening is formed in a state in which is left in a part of the opening 23c so that the toner can be supplied.

In this embodiment, the toner storage container 2
Although the shape of 3 has a substantially triangular cross section, as shown in FIG.
The toner storage container 23A may be a toner storage container 23A having a substantially fan-shaped cross section in which a triangular apex portion is cut out to form an arc shape, and the opening 23c is hermetically sealed in an arc shape.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 to 3, the tear tape 28
A handle fixing plate 29 is attached to the end of the handle, a tear tape handle 30 is further coupled to the handle fixing plate 29, and the handle fixing plate 29 is detachably attached to the upper guide plate 24. When the toner is supplied, the tear tape grip 30
The tear tape 28 by pulling on the cover film 2
7, the cover film 27 is torn along the tear line 27a to form an opening, and the toner is discharged.

Upper and lower guide plates 24 and 25 are attached to the V-shaped portion of the toner container 23 by appropriate means. In the vicinity of the longitudinal end of the upper guide plate 24,
A circular guide hole 32 for the tear tape 28 to pass through
Further, an insertion handle 31 is provided on the upper surface of the upper guide plate 24 at the longitudinal center thereof.

The insertion handle 31 is for facilitating the operation when the toner cartridge C is inserted into the process cartridge B, and is made of a flexible integrally molded product such as PP or PA. As shown in 1, the thickness is 1 to
It is formed in a U-shape of 2 mm, and the bent portions which are the bases of the legs 31a, 31a are thinly formed with a thickness of 0.3 to 0.8 mm. As a result, the bent portions of the legs 31a, 31a serve as a hinge. Further, the insertion handle 31 has a leg portion 31a.
The upper guide plate 2 can be bent at the bending part of
It is possible to fold it into a concave portion 24a having a shape corresponding to the insertion handle 31 provided on the upper surface of the connector 4. This recess 24a
Is equal to the thickness of the insertion handle 31, and therefore
When the insertion handle 31 is fitted to the 4a, the upper guide plate 24
The upper surface of is flat and can save space.

The insertion handle 31 is usually the upper guide plate 24.
It is in a form that can be easily grasped by being raised obliquely upward from the upper surface of the.

Four guide rollers 33 are attached to the side surfaces of both ends in the longitudinal direction of the upper guide plate 24 so as to be opposed to each other so as to extend in the longitudinal direction. These guide rollers 33 will be described later in the process cartridge B. The position of the upper guide plate 24 can be regulated by moving along the guide groove. An ironing seal 34 is attached to the lower surface of the upper guide plate 24 along the guide hole 32.

One oblique side portion of the side plate 26 is rotatably connected to both ends of the lower surface of the upper guide plate 24 in the longitudinal direction.

Similarly, the other oblique side portions of the side plate 26 are rotatably coupled to both longitudinal ends of the upper surface of the lower guide plate 25.

A tear tape 28 is provided on the lower surface of the lower guide plate 25.
A cover 35 is provided so as to cover the end portion in the width direction of the toner cartridge C along the longitudinal direction thereof, thereby preventing the tear tape 28 from being caught when the toner cartridge C is inserted into the process cartridge B.

Further, a protrusion 25a projecting in the longitudinal direction is provided at one end of the side surface of the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the lower guide plate 25, that is, on the side opposite to the mounting position of the cover 35, and the guide of the upper guide plate 24 is provided. Like the roller 33, the movement of the lower guide plate 25 is restricted when the lower guide plate 25 is inserted into the process cartridge B.

As described above, the side plate 26 has a plate shape in which both hypotenuses of the substantially triangular shape are rotatably coupled to the lower guide plates 24 and 25 as described above, and is located on the vertical line from the central portion, that is, the apex. It has a hinge part 26a and can be bent inward.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2 in particular, the side plate 26
A slit 26b is provided in the area of the plate thickness of the above, which extends over the bent portion. A substantially fan-shaped stopper 36 that restricts the inward bending of the side plate 26 is fitted into the slit 26b. The stopper 36 includes a claw portion 36a that meshes with the positioning portions 26b ₁ and 26b ₂ of the slit 26b, and a cylindrical protrusion portion 36b that is movable along the perforated portion 26c provided on the upper guide plate 24 side of the side plate 26. have.

Normally, the stopper 36 is positioned so that the claw portion 36a meshes with the first positioning portion 26b ₁ and straddles the bent portion of the side plate 26, and prevents the side plate 26 from being bent. On the other hand, by rotating the stopper 36 counterclockwise in the figure around the pivot 36c by the projection 36b, the engagement of the claw 36a with the first positioning portion 26b ₁ and the second positioning portion 26b ₂ is performed. It can be changed to meshing, whereby the stopper 36 moves to the upper guide plate 24 side and retracts from the bent portion, and the side plate 26
Can be bent.

Further, a circular hole 26d having a size corresponding to the protrusion 36b is formed on the lower guide plate 25 side of the side plate 26, and when the side plate 26 is bent, the protrusion 36 is formed.
Is loosely fitted into the hole 26d and does not hinder the bending of the side plate 26.

A notch portion 24 for avoiding interference with a spring member of the process cartridge B, which will be described later, is formed in the center portion of the side surfaces of the longitudinal ends of the upper and lower guide plates 24, 25.
b and 25b are provided respectively.

Next, the process cartridge B according to the present invention will be described again in detail with reference to FIGS.

The opening located above the toner storage portion 9a can be opened and closed by a lid member 44 which is an opening / closing member. The lid member 44 has a fan-shaped side plate portion 44a, and a rotary protrusion 44b is provided at a portion of the side plate portion 44a corresponding to the center of the fan. The rotary protrusion 44b is located outside the side wall of the toner storage portion 9a of the process cartridge B. The process cartridge B is rotatably coupled to the process cartridge B by being fitted in the recess provided in the process cartridge B.

Further, on the back surface of the lid member 44, a pushing protrusion 44d for pushing the process cartridge C into the toner storage portion 9a and a guide rib 44e for guiding the tear tape 28 to the outside are provided.

Toner storage section 9 of process cartridge B
Sealing members 37, such as maltoprene, are attached to the inner wall surfaces of the front, rear, left, and right surrounding the a with a predetermined thickness. Inside the left and right side walls, a guide groove 38 for inserting the toner cartridge C and a spring member 39 for folding the inserted toner cartridge C are provided.

The guide grooves 38 are formed in a circular shape in the vicinity of the entrance of the toner cartridge C and in a straight shape on the inner side thereof, and are provided in parallel.

Further, as shown in FIG. 9, first locking claws 40 are rotatably attached to the left and right side walls of the toner storage portion 9a by a shaft member 40a provided at the center thereof. It has first and second protrusions 40b and 40c extending in opposite directions from both ends, that is, outward and inward, and a window 41 through which the first protrusion 40b protrudes outward is also provided. The window 41 is covered with a flexible curtain 42 from the outside. The second protrusion 40c is provided on the back surface of the second protrusion 40c.
A spring member 40d for urging c inward is attached.

Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the toner storage portion 9
A second locking claw 43 is rotatably provided on the inner wall of the rear part of the a, and together with the first locking claw 40, the toner cartridge C
Acts to regulate the insertion of. One end of the second locking claw 43 is pivotally supported by the shaft member 43a, a concave engagement portion 43b is provided inside the other end, and a spring member 43c is provided on the back surface of the engagement portion 43b with the engagement portion 43b. It is arranged so as to be biased inward.

Further, in the vicinity of the opening of the toner storage portion 9a, a shield plate 45 for sealing the toner stored in the process cartridge B in the initial stage is provided with the first locking claw 40 and the second locking. It is fixed by the claw 43. The shield plate 45 has a structure in which the insertion handle 31 and the guide hole 32 are removed from the upper guide plate 24 of the toner cartridge B.

The toner stored in the toner storage portion 9a is sealed by the shield plate 45 and the seal members 37 attached to the side walls and front and rear walls of the toner storage portion 9a, and therefore leaks to the outside. There is no such thing. Also, the shielding plate 45
This makes it possible to prevent foreign matter, dust, and the like from entering the toner through the opening when replenishing.

The shield plate 45 is the first and second locking claws 4.
By releasing the lock of 0 and 43, the guide rollers 33a at both ends are guided to the guide groove 38 on the side wall of the toner storage portion 9a.
You can move along.

Next, the operation of the process cartridge B and the toner cartridge C having the above-described configurations, which accompanies toner supply, will be described.

As shown in FIG. 10, the interior of the process cartridge B is initially filled with toner,
The opening of the toner storage portion 9a is closed by the shield plate 45 at the position D, that is, in the vicinity of the opening of the toner storage portion 9a. In this state, the process cartridge B is inserted into the image forming apparatus main body A to form an image and consumes toner.

Next, with reference to FIG. 11, a case will be described in which the toner in the toner storage portion 9a is consumed as a result of image formation and then the toner is replenished by the first toner cartridge C.

First, the opening / closing member 15 of the image forming apparatus main body A
Open to expose the lid member 44 of the process cartridge B. Then, the lid member 44 is rotated around the rotation protrusion 44b to open the opening of the toner storage portion 9a. Therefore, the operator holds the insertion handle 31 of the first toner cartridge C,
The first toner cartridge C is moved onto the opening of the toner storage portion 9a and placed in the opening.

At this time, in the cross section of the first toner cartridge C, the apex is placed on the rotary protrusion 44b side of the lid member 44, and the lower guide plate 25 is placed on the shield plate 45 side, and placed in the opening. The protrusion 25a provided on the side wall of the end of the lower guide plate 25 has a guide groove 38 on the upper side of the toner storage portion 9a.
Is engaged with.

The area of the lower guide plate 25 of the first toner cartridge C is set smaller than the opening area of the surface of the seal member 37 when the seal member 37 is attached to the side wall and the front and rear walls of the toner storage portion 9a. Has been done. On the other hand, the area of the upper guide plate 24 is the sealing member 3 when the sealing member 37 is attached to the side wall and the front and rear walls of the toner storage portion 9a.
The opening area is larger than the opening area formed by the surface of No. 7 and smaller than the opening area of the toner storage portion 9a not including the seal member 37. Therefore, when the first toner cartridge C is in the opening, the lower guide plate 25 is inserted into the opening, but the upper guide plate 24 is stopped when the opening reaches the opening.

At this time, since the tear tape grip 30 of the first toner cartridge C is held by the grip fixing plate 29 so as to pop out to the outside, the tear tape grip 30 is in a state of being projected to the outside of the toner accommodating portion 9a. .

Next, the lid member 44 is rotated in the closing direction, and the pushing protrusion 44d of the lid member 44 is pressed against the upper surface of the upper guide plate 24 of the first toner cartridge C, and the outer periphery of the upper guide plate 24 and the toner accommodating portion. The first toner cartridge C is pushed in along the guide groove 38 while crushing the seal member 37 between the side wall of 9a and the front and rear walls.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 9, the shielding plate 45
Immediately before the upper surface of the first toner cartridge C and the lower surface of the lower guide plate 25 of the first toner cartridge C come into contact with each other, the first locking claw 40 provided inside the side plate 44a of the lid member 44 and outside the side wall of the toner accommodating portion 9a. By pressing the first protrusion 40b together with the curtain 42, the first locking claw 40 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure around the shaft member 40, and the locking of the first locking claw 40 with respect to the shield plate 45 is released. .

At the same time, as shown in FIG. 12, at the edge of the lower guide plate 25 of the first toner cartridge C, the toner storage unit 9 is
a protrusion 4 of the second locking claw 43 provided on the upper side of the rear wall of a
By pressing 3d, the second locking claw 43 is rotated counterclockwise in the figure around the shaft member 43 against the biasing force of the spring member 43c, and the end of the shield plate 45 is recessed. 43b
Further, the second locking claw 43 is released from the shielding plate 45.

Thereafter, the first toner cartridge C is pushed in while the guide rollers 33 of the upper guide plate 24 are engaged with the guide grooves 38 of the toner accommodating portion 9a. The shielding plate 45 moves inwardly in the toner storage portion 9a in a state of being in close contact with the lower guide plate 24 of the first toner cartridge C.

As shown in FIG. 13, the shielding plate 45 moves to the inner side in the toner containing portion 9a together with the first toner cartridge C, and the sealing member 37 attached to the side wall and the front and rear walls of the toner containing portion 9a. Since the upper guide plate 24 of the first toner cartridge C comes into contact with the sealing members 37 attached to the side wall and the front and rear walls of the toner storage portion 9a before being separated from the toner storage portion 9a, the toner storage portion 9a is not interrupted. . More specifically, the seal member 37 is provided on the side wall and the front and rear walls of the toner storage portion 9a.
Of the first toner cartridge C and the lower guide plate 25 of the first toner cartridge C from the opening of the shielding plate 4
The upper surface of the upper guide plate 24 is a circle b that is attached to at least the area covering 5 and connects the upper surface of the upper guide plate 24 and the lower surface of the shielding plate 45 when the first toner cartridge C is inserted from the opening. Is larger than the circular arc a connecting the lower surface of the lower guide plate 25 with the lower guide plate 25, and as a result, the sealed state of the toner storage portion 9a can be maintained.

Next, as shown in FIG. 14, the lid member 44 is completely closed. At this time, the pushing protrusion 44 of the lid member 44
In the state d with the lid member 44 closed, the upper guide plate 24 of the first toner cartridge C is again locked by the first locking claw 40 (see FIG. 9) and the second locking claw 43, and the first toner The opening for the cartridge C faces downward, and the height is such that the pushing is stopped at the position where the toner is easily discharged.

In this state, the tear tape grip 30 is pulled out in the direction of arrow E shown in FIG. 15, that is, in the direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the toner container 23. The tear tape 28 moves in the direction of the arrow F, that is, in the longitudinal direction thereof, tears the cover film 27 that seals the toner storage container 23 along the tear line 27a, and peels off the adhesive portion, so that the toner is the first toner. Discharge to the outside of the cartridge C.

At this time, the toner container 23 at the beginning of opening
The hooking portion 23b provided at the end of the side plate 26 is hooked by the convex portion 26e of the side plate 26, and the side plate 26 is fixed by the stopper 36 described later, so that the flexible toner container 23 is adhered to the tear tape 28. It is not pulled by force.

The tear tape 28 is folded back through the guide hole 32 of the upper guide plate 24, and the toner adhering to the surface is removed by the ironing seal 34 into the toner container 9a. The guide hole 32 has an arcuate shape, and when the tear tape 28 is pulled in the E direction, a force pulling the tear tape 28 to the center of the guide hole 32 works, and the tear tape 28 is guided by the guide hole 32.
It prevents the edges of the wrinkles from wrinkling and hindering smooth peeling.

Further, as shown in FIG. 16, the tear tape 2
8 is folded back by the guide rib 44e of the lid member 44 and changes the angle in the pulling direction G of the tear tape 28. At this time, the guide holes 32 (FIG. 15) are formed so that the distances m to n on one side edge of the tear tape 28 to the outside of the lid member 44 and the other side edges p to q to r are substantially equal. And guide ribs 44e are formed, and the tear tape 28 is configured to be pulled out in a linear direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the toner cartridge C.

With the above structure, the tear tape 28 can be pulled out with the lid member 44 of the process cartridge B closed, and the operation can be performed smoothly and easily.

After that, the opening / closing member 15 of the image forming apparatus main body 14 is closed. In this way, the toner is supplied to the process cartridge B to enable image formation again.

Next, the case where the toner replenished by the first toner cartridge C is also consumed and the toner is replenished by the second toner cartridge D having the same structure as the first toner cartridge C will be described.

As shown in FIG. 17, first, the opening / closing member 15 of the image forming apparatus main body 14 is opened to open the process cartridge B.
The lid member 44 is rotated in the opening direction to expose the opening of the toner storage portion 9a. Next, the second toner cartridge D is processed in the same manner as the first toner cartridge C, and the toner storage unit 9
Insert into a. Similarly, the lid member 44 is rotated in the direction of the arrow, and the pushing protrusion 44d of the lid member 44 pushes the upper surface of the upper guide plate 24 of the second toner cartridge D in the inner side direction of the toner storage portion 9a.

At this time, as in the case where the first toner cartridge C is pushed into the toner storage portion 9a, the locking of the first locking claw 40 and the second locking claw 43 to the first toner cartridge C is released, and the first toner cartridge C is released. The toner cartridge C and the second toner cartridge D move together. Also, the insertion handle 3 on the upper surface of the upper guide plate 24 of the first toner cartridge C
1 is folded and stored in the recess 24a (see FIG. 1) of the upper guide plate 24, and the upper surface of the upper guide plate 24 is in a flat state.

Next, the lower guide plate 25 interferes with the spring member 39 provided on the side wall of the toner accommodating portion 9a shown in FIG. 8 due to the notch 25b (see FIG. 1) provided in the lower guide plate 25. The protrusion 36b of the stopper 36 provided on the side plate 26 of the toner cartridge C contacts the spring member 39 without passing.

At this time, as shown in FIGS. 18 and 19,
The stopper 36 receives a force from the spring member 39 in the arrow H direction. The stopper 36 is provided in the slit 26b of the side plate 26 in the first recessed portion 26c of the slit 26b.
Although a is stopped from meshing (solid line), it is moved in the direction of arrow J by receiving a force via the spring member 39, and is fixed so as not to return while the pawl portion 36a is meshed with the second concave portion 26d. (Dotted line). Therefore, the side plate 26 can be folded when the end of the stopper 36 passes through the bent portion.

Further, since the protrusion 36b of the stopper 36 receives a force from the spring member 39 also in the direction of arrow I, the side plate 26 is folded inward at the hinge portion 26a. At this time, since the first toner cartridge C has already discharged the toner in the toner storage container 23, there is no problem in being easily folded. Also, when the side plate 26 is folded inward,
The protrusion 36b of the stopper 36 is loosely fitted into the corresponding hole 26d (see FIG. 1), so that the protrusion 3
6b does not interfere with the side plate 26 to hinder folding.

Then, the upper guide plate 24 is moved to the spring member 39.
20 through the upper guide plate 24 because there is a notch 24b (see FIG. 1) provided in the upper guide plate 24, the guide groove 38 is concentric with the folded first toner cartridge C as shown in FIG. Move from the striped region to the parallel region.
Therefore, the upper guide plate 24 and the lower guide plate 25 are in a parallel state, and the first toner cartridge C has the smallest volume in the folded state. Further, even if unexpected vibration or the like is applied during the folding of the side plate 26, the rib 46 provided in parallel with the guide groove 38 inside the side wall of the toner storage portion 9a restricts the movement of the protrusion 36b of the stopper 36. Therefore, the side plate 26 that has started to be folded does not return to the original state.

Then, similarly to the first toner cartridge C, the tear tape 28 of the second toner cartridge D is pulled out to supply the toner to the process cartridge B, and the opening / closing member 15 of the image forming apparatus main body A is closed to form an image. .

After that, the toner can be replenished by inserting a new toner cartridge every time the replenished toner is consumed. The old toner cartridge is sequentially pushed and stacked by inserting a new toner cartridge. In this embodiment, the toner cartridges C, D,
FIG. 21 shows an example in which up to four E and F can be inserted.

As described above, the toner cartridge can be folded so as to have the minimum volume to save space, and the number of toner cartridges that can be inserted in the toner storage portion can be increased to supply toner. Not only can the amount be increased, but new toner cartridges cannot be pushed in and taken out one after another, so that the toner replenishment operation can be simplified and made easier to understand, and toner scattering can be prevented. Further, by providing a sealing material having an appropriate thickness on the front and rear walls and both side walls of the toner storage container, it is possible to reliably prevent toner leakage.

Further, by pushing the toner cartridge having a substantially triangular cross section along the circular guide, and stacking the deformed and reduced toner cartridge having the rectangular cross section along the parallel guide, Achieved compactness.

Further, since the unsealed surface of the substantially triangular toner cartridge faces downward in the loading path in the toner hopper, the toner in the toner container is reliably discharged.

In the above description, the case where the toner cartridge according to the present invention is applied to the process cartridge has been described. However, for example, a process such as a toner hopper device of an image forming apparatus such as an electrophotographic copying machine, that is, a developing roller or the like. Needless to say, the present invention can be applied to an apparatus that does not have a unit and simply stores toner and supplies the toner to the developing unit.

[0103]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, in a process cartridge in which a plurality of toner cartridges are replenished with toner, it is possible to suppress the size increase of the process cartridge by folding the toner cartridge small. By increasing the number of toner cartridges to be mounted, the amount of replenishment toner can be increased, and thus the life can be extended, and by folding the toner cartridge with a small force, the toner cartridge can be easily mounted to the process cartridge. It is possible to obtain a toner storage container that can be used, a toner cartridge including the toner storage container, a process cartridge, and an image forming apparatus including the process cartridge.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a toner cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the toner cartridge of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a toner storage container included in the toner cartridge of FIG.

5 is a plan view of the toner storage container of FIG. 4 viewed from the bottom.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state in which the toner cartridge of FIG. 4 is folded.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the toner cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of a process cartridge according to the present invention.

9 is an explanatory view of a main part showing a state in which a toner cartridge is inserted in the process cartridge of FIG.

FIG. 10 is an explanatory diagram showing a process cartridge in an initial state.

FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the first toner cartridge is inserted into the process cartridge.

FIG. 12 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the first toner cartridge is placed in the opening of the process cartridge.

FIG. 13 is an explanatory diagram showing a sealed state of the process cartridge.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the first toner cartridge is mounted in a fixed position of the process cartridge.

FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the tear tape of the first toner cartridge is removed in the state of FIG.

16 is an explanatory diagram showing a state of the tear tape removed in the state of FIG.

FIG. 17 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the second toner cartridge is inserted into the process cartridge.

FIG. 18 is an explanatory view of relevant parts showing the relationship between the first toner cartridge and the spring member of the process cartridge.

FIG. 19 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the action of the stopper of the first toner cartridge.

FIG. 20 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which the second toner cartridge is mounted in a fixed position of the process cartridge.

FIG. 21 is an explanatory diagram showing a state in which first to fourth toner cartridges are mounted in the process cartridge.

FIG. 22 is an overall configuration diagram showing an embodiment of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus in which a process cartridge according to the present invention is mounted.

23 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus of FIG. 22 as seen from the outside.

24 is a configuration diagram showing a process cartridge mounted in the image forming apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 25 is a perspective view of the process cartridge of FIG. 24 as seen from the outside.

FIG. 26 is a perspective view showing a mounting portion of the image forming apparatus main body in which the process cartridge of FIG. 25 is mounted.

27 is a perspective view of the mounting portion of the image forming apparatus main body in which the process cartridge of FIG. 25 is mounted, viewed from a direction different from FIG.

28 is an explanatory view showing a mounting member of the process cartridge of FIG. 25.

FIG. 29 is a sectional view showing the mounting member of FIG. 28.

[Explanation of symbols]

 9a Toner storage portion 23 Toner storage container 23b Side wall portion 23c Opening portion 24 Upper guide plate (holding means) 25 Lower guide plate (holding means) 27 Cover film 28 Tear tape 44 Lid member (opening / closing member) A Image forming apparatus B Process cartridge C , D, E, F toner cartridges

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (72) Inventor Kazuo Chatani 3-30-2 Shimomaruko, Ota-ku, Tokyo Canon Inc.

Claims (21)

[Claims] 1. A toner storage container comprising an opening for replenishing toner, a container main body for storing toner, and a seal member for sealing the opening, wherein the container main body is compressed to reduce its volume. A toner storage container characterized by being able to do so. 2. The toner storage container according to claim 1, wherein a surface of the container body that is crushed when compressed is formed so as to project into the inside of the container body. 3. The toner container according to claim 2, wherein the surface of the container body that is crushed during compression is a side wall at the end portion in the longitudinal direction of the container body. 4. The container body according to claim 1, wherein the container body has a substantially triangular or fan-shaped cross-section, and both side surfaces of the opening are compressed toward the inside of the container body. Toner storage container. 5. The material of the container body is polypropylene,
The toner container according to claim 1, which is made of polyethylene, vinyl chloride, or nylon. 6. The toner accommodating container according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of a portion of the container body that is compressed and crushed and deformed is 0.1 mm to 1 mm. 7. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the container body is molded by vacuum molding. 8. A toner cartridge comprising a toner storage container and a holding means for holding the toner storage container from the outside, wherein the toner storage container is compressed by the holding means. A toner cartridge characterized in that the volume of the container body is reduced. 9. A process cartridge which can be attached to and detached from a main body of an image forming apparatus and can be supplied with toner by a toner cartridge, wherein an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member and the electrophotographic photosensitive member A toner accommodating means for accommodating the toner used for developing the formed latent image; an opening / closing member provided in the toner accommodating means and capable of being opened to supply the toner to the toner accommodating means; A toner cartridge mounting unit provided in the toner storing unit, and the toner cartridge mounted in the toner cartridge mounting unit has a toner storing container for storing toner and a holding unit for holding the toner storing container. However, the toner container is reduced in volume through the holding means. . 10. A surface of the container body, which is crushed when compressed,
10. The process cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the process cartridge is molded so as to project inside the container body. 11. The surface of the container body, which is crushed when compressed,
11. The process cartridge according to claim 10, wherein the process cartridge is a side wall at a longitudinal end portion of the container body. 12. The container body has a substantially triangular cross section,
10. The process cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the process cartridge has a substantially fan shape, and both side surfaces of the opening are compressed toward the inside of the container body. 13. The process cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the material of the container body is polypropylene, polyethylene, vinyl chloride, or nylon. 14. The process cartridge according to claim 9, wherein a thickness of a portion of the container body that is compressed and deformed is 0.1 mm to 1 mm. 15. The process cartridge according to claim 9, wherein the container body is molded by vacuum molding. 16. The process cartridge comprises a charging means, a developing means or a cleaning means as the process means, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member, which are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is attached to or detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. The process cartridge according to any one of claims 9 to 15, which is possible. 17. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which at least one of a charging unit, a developing unit and a cleaning unit as the process unit, and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrally formed into a cartridge, and the cartridge is used as a main body of the image forming apparatus. 10. The device is removable from the device.
1 to 15 process cartridges. 18. The process cartridge is a cartridge in which a developing unit as the process unit and the electrophotographic photosensitive member are integrated into a cartridge, and the cartridge can be attached to and detached from the main body of the image forming apparatus. A process cartridge according to any one of claims 9 to 15. 19. An image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, wherein a process cartridge is attachable / detachable, and (a) an electrophotographic photosensitive member, a process unit acting on the electrophotographic photosensitive member, and the electrophotographic apparatus. Toner accommodating means for accommodating toner used for developing the latent image formed on the photoconductor, and opening / closing member provided in the toner accommodating means and capable of being opened to supply toner to the toner accommodating means And a toner cartridge mounting means provided in the toner storing means. The toner cartridge mounted in the toner cartridge mounting means includes a toner storing container for storing toner and a holding means for holding the toner storing container. And a process cartridge in which the toner storage container is reduced in volume via the holding means, is detachably mounted. And mounting means fit, the image forming apparatus characterized by having a conveying means for conveying the (b) the recording medium. 20. The image forming apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic copying machine. 21. The image forming apparatus according to claim 20, wherein the image forming apparatus is an electrophotographic printer.