JPH0862981A - Toner container and developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To provide a developing device capable of preventing the soiling of the outer periphery of a toner container caused by its attachment/detachment, the hand of an operator, etc., by preventing the infiltration of toner between the toner container and a developing part. CONSTITUTION: The developing device 50 which is provided with the developing part 8 attaining development, including the carrying of the toner (t) and to which a hopper (toner container) 4 housing the toner (t) and supplying it to the developing part 8 can be attached, is provided with a shutter (shutting means) 13 having an opening part 14 wider than the opening part 9 of the hopper 4 between the developing part 8 and the hopper 4, sheet-like elastic sealing members 131 and 132 abutted on the outer periphery in the vicinity of the opening part 9 of the hopper 4, in the opening part 14 of the shutter 13 and sheet-like elastic sealing members 11 and 12 inserted through the opening part 14 of the shutter 13, to be abutted on the outer periphery of the hopper 4, at the time of supplying the toner (t) and abutted on the outer periphery of the shutter 13 at the time of attaching/detaching the hopper 4, in the developing part. 8.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developing device of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus and a toner container mountable on the developing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an image forming apparatus adopting an electrophotographic system, a developing device is arranged around a photosensitive drum which is an image carrier, and when a predetermined electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum, The electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device via a developer and visualized as an image. An example of such a developing device will be described with reference to FIGS.

5 and 6 are sectional views of a conventional developing device 50. The developing device 50 is arranged around a photosensitive drum 1 which is an image bearing member, and it includes a developing container 3 and a developing device. Developer storing hopper 4 detachable from the main body 50A
And a developing section 8 having a developing sleeve 2 which is a developer carrying member.

By the way, the hopper 4 has an opening 9 for discharging the toner t as a developer to the developing section 8 side.
Is provided. Then, inside the hopper 4, the stirring rod 6 to which the stirring sheet 5 as the stirring member is attached rotates about the shaft 6a in the direction of arrow a in FIG. Is discharged to the developing unit 8.

When the hopper 4 is attached to or detached from the developing device main body 50A, as shown in FIG. 6, the hopper 4 is rotated by a predetermined angle so that the opening 9 thereof is located above, and the hopper 4 is attached and detached. The downward leakage of t is prevented. After the hopper 4 is attached to the developing device main body 50A, the stopper portion 4a of the hopper 4 has a stopper portion 4a so that the toner t can be discharged to the developing sleeve 2 side of the developing portion 8.
It is rotated in the original direction until it comes into contact with the contact portion 3a (see FIG. 5).

[0006]

However, in the above-described conventional developing device 50, since there is no member for sealing between the developing section 8 and the hopper 4, the toner t is not generated between the hopper 4 and the developing section 8. It invades in large quantities. For this reason, the toner t adheres to the outer periphery of the hopper 4 due to the rotating operation when the hopper 4 is attached and detached.
There is a problem that the worker's hands get dirty.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent toner from entering between a toner container and a developing unit, and to attach and detach the toner container to stain the outer circumference of the toner container. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developing device capable of preventing contamination of a worker's hand.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a toner container which can prevent toner from adhering by acting on a blocking means and rotating it integrally when the developing device body rotates.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is detachable from the developing device main body, contains toner inside, and has an opening at a part of the outer periphery. In the toner container which has a state in which the toner can be carried out from the opening by rotating the developing device body after being inserted and set,
A plurality of engaging means are formed on the outer periphery of the developing device main body for abutting against the restricting means and for abutting against the blocking means provided on the developing device main body for integrally rotating the engaging means. To do.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a developing device having a developing section for carrying out development including toner conveyance, wherein a toner container for accommodating toner and supplying the toner to the developing section can be mounted. A blocking means having an opening wider than the opening of the toner container is provided between the developing section and the toner container, and the opening of the blocking means is in the form of a sheet-like elastic member that comes into contact with the outer periphery of the opening near the opening of the toner container. A sheet-like elastic seal member is provided in the developing unit, which is provided with a seal member and which contacts the outer periphery of the toner container by penetrating the opening of the blocking unit when replenishing the toner and contacts the outer periphery of the blocking unit when the toner container is attached and detached. It is characterized by being provided.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the blocking means rotates in association with the rotation operation of the toner container, and the opening of the blocking means and the opening of the toner container are separated from each other. It is characterized in that it is configured so as to maintain a positional relationship that always maintains a communication state.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the blocking means is fixed to a sliding member, and only the sliding member is in contact with the sliding surface and rotates together with the blocking means. It is characterized by

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the toner container is provided with an engagement means for interlocking the rotation of the blocking means and the sliding member with the rotation of the toner container. To do.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fifth aspect of the invention, the rotation angle of the toner container and the blocking means is regulated by bringing the toner container and the blocking means into contact with the engaging means when rotating. It is characterized in that the regulating means is provided in the developing container body.

The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 2 to 5 or 6, characterized in that the breaking means is made of a non-magnetic material.

[0016]

When the toner container is attached to the developing device main body, the toner container is pushed into the developing device main body with the opening of the toner container facing upward, and the opening of the toner container is blocked. Since it is sealed by the elastic seal member provided in the means, the toner contained in the toner container does not leak out through the opening.

Next, when the toner container mounted on the main body of the developing device is rotated, the sliding means and the blocking means rotate in conjunction with the rotation of the toner container. While these are rotating,
Since the blocking means and the toner container rotate integrally and no relative rotation occurs between the two, the opening of the toner container is kept sealed by the elastic sealing member on the blocking means side. Even while the toner container is rotating, the toner does not leak to the outside from the opening of the toner container and adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the toner container. Never be done.

When the opening of the toner container is open to the developing section, the elastic sealing member provided on the side of the developing container seals the gap between the blocking means and the developing container, so that the toner is kept between the two. There is no intrusion.

After that, the toner in the toner container is agitated and a predetermined amount of the toner is carried out from the opening portion to the developing portion. After the toner passes through the opening portion, the toner is developed along the elastic seal member on the developing container side. And supplied for development. At this time, since the space between the blocking means and the developing container is sealed by the elastic seal member provided on the developing container side, the toner is prevented from entering between the blocking means and the developing container, and the outer peripheral surface of the hopper is prevented. Contamination of workers' hands and the like due to adhesion of toner can be prevented.

After that, when the toner in the toner container is consumed and the amount thereof has decreased, when the toner container is replaced with a new one, the toner container is rotated in the opposite direction to that when the toner container is mounted, but the surface of the blocking means is changed. The adhered toner is scraped off by an elastic seal member provided on the developing container side, so that the toner is prevented from entering between the blocking means and the developing container. Further, while the sliding means and the blocking means rotate in association with the rotation of the toner container, the blocking means and the toner container rotate integrally and no relative rotation occurs between them.
The opening of the toner container is still kept sealed by the elastic sealing member on the blocking means side. Therefore, even while the toner container is rotating, the toner leaks from the opening of the toner container to the outside. It does not come out and adhere to the outer peripheral surface of the toner container.

Then, if the toner container is pulled out with the opening of the toner container facing upward, the toner container can be removed from the main body of the developing device. In this case as well, the hands of the operator are not contaminated because there is no adherence.

The elastic seal member provided on the developing container side has a sealing function of sealing the opening of the toner container and a guide function of guiding the toner supplied from the toner container to the developing unit through the opening. It also has a cleaning function of removing the toner adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the blocking means.

[0023]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of the developing device according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the developing device showing a state in which a hopper is attached and detached.
3 is an enlarged detailed view of the vicinity of the toner discharge port (opening) of FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the vicinity of the toner discharge port (opening) of FIG.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a photosensitive drum which is an image carrier rotatably driven in the direction of an arrow shown in FIG. 1. A developing device 50 according to the present invention is arranged around the photosensitive drum 1.

The developing device 50 is detachably attached to the developing container 3, and the developing container 3
A toner storage hopper 4 rotatably loaded therein,
It is configured to include a developing sleeve 2 which is a developer carrying member and a developing portion 8 including a stirring member 15 which is rotationally driven in a direction of an arrow shown in the drawing.

The hopper 4 is formed into a round tube shape, and the toner t and the agitating sheet 5 are housed inside the hopper 4. The stirring sheet 5 is attached to the stirring shaft 6, and the stirring sheet 5 rotates the inside of the hopper 4 in the direction of the arrow a in the figure by the rotation of the stirring shaft 6 to stir the toner t.
A predetermined amount of toner t is carried out from the opening 9 of the hopper 4 to the developing unit 8 and is used for development.

A developing container 3 is provided on the outer circumference of the developing sleeve 2.
The tip of the elastic blade 7 attached to the side abuts, the thickness of the toner t on the developing sleeve 2 is regulated to an appropriate value by the elastic blade 7, and the toner t is evenly distributed on the developing sleeve 2. Is applied.

By the way, between the developing container 3 and the hopper 4, a semi-ring-shaped guide member 10 which rotates along the inner peripheral wall of the developing container 3 is fitted. A semi-cylindrical shutter 13 is attached to shut off between the developing unit 8 and the hopper 4.

The shutter 13 is made of a non-magnetic material, and an opening 14 wider than the opening 9 of the hopper 4 is formed in a part of the shutter 13. And the shutter 1
Elastic seal members 131 and 132 are attached to the opening 14 of the third hopper 3 so that the tip end thereof contacts the outer peripheral surface of the hopper 4 near the opening 9 at an acute angle with respect to the tangential direction. The outer peripheral surface of the shutter 13 is not in contact with the inner peripheral wall of the developing container 3, and a predetermined gap is formed between them.

Elastic seal members 11 and 12 are attached to the upper and lower portions of the developing container 3 where the developing portion 8 is formed. The tip portions of the elastic seal members 11 and 12 are shown in FIG. As shown in detail, the shutter 13
Through the opening 14 of the elastic seal members 131, 13
The outer peripheral surface of the hopper 4 in the vicinity of the opening 9 is in contact with the tip of the hopper 2 from the outside so as to form an acute angle with the tangential direction.

On the other hand, engaging projections 41 and 42, which should come into contact with the end surfaces of the guide members 10, are integrally formed at opposite portions of the outer peripheral surface of the hopper 4, and the inner wall of the developing container 3 is formed. Above and below, the engaging projections 4 of the hopper 4 are
Stoppers 31, 32 to which 1, 42 abut should be formed. The engagement protrusions 41 and 42 of the hopper 4 come into contact with the stoppers 31 and 32, so that the rotation of the hopper 4 is restricted within a predetermined angle range.

In the developing device 50 having the above-described structure, the detachable hopper 4 can be attached to the developing device main body 50A with the opening 9 of the hopper 4 facing upward as shown in FIG. The hopper 4 is pushed in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2 to mount it. At this time, since the opening 9 of the hopper 4 is sealed by the elastic seal members 131 and 132 attached to the shutter 13, the toner t stored in the hopper 4 may leak out from the opening 9. Absent.

Next, from the state shown in FIG. 2, the hopper 4 is rotated until its engaging projection 42 contacts the stopper 32 of the developing container 3 as shown in FIG. Then, since the other engaging protrusion 41 of the hopper 4 contacts the end surface of the guide member 10, the guide member 10 and the shutter 13 attached thereto rotate integrally with the hopper 4 in the developing container 3 in the same direction. . At this time, since the outer peripheral surface of the shutter 13 is not in contact with the inner peripheral wall of the developing container 3 as described above, the hopper 4 can be easily rotated with a small force. Since the shutter 13 is made of a non-magnetic material as described above, it does not affect the toner t. Here, the shutter 13 may be made of a non-magnetic metal, whereby the shutter 13 can be downsized, and the toner storage capacity of the hopper 4 can be increased by the size reduction, or the developing container body 3 Can be miniaturized.

Thus, as described above, while the guide member 10 and the shutter 13 are rotating in the same direction in conjunction with the rotation of the hopper 4, the shutter 13 and the hopper 4 are integrally rotated so that the distance between them is increased. Since relative rotation does not occur in the shutter 13, the opening 14 of the shutter 13 and the opening 9 of the hopper 4 always maintain communication with each other, and the opening 9 of the hopper 4 keeps the opening 9 in the shutter 1.
The elastic seal members 131 and 132 on the third side keep the sealed state, so that the toner t leaks to the outside from the opening 9 of the hopper 4 even while the hopper 4 is rotating. This does not adhere to the outer peripheral surface of the hopper 4, and the adhered toner t does not stain the hands of an operator or the like.

Then, the hopper 4, the guide member 10 and the shutter 13 rotate in the direction of the arrow from the state shown in FIG. 2, and the engaging projection 42 of the hopper 4 contacts the stopper 32 of the developing container 3 as shown in FIG. At the time of contact, the opening 9 of the hopper 4 opens to the developing section 8. In this state,
The elastic seal members 11 and 12 provided on the developing container 3 side seal between the shutter 13 and the developing container 3.

Thereafter, when the stirring sheet 5 rotates in the direction of arrow a in FIG. 1 by the rotation of the stirring shaft 6, the toner t in the hopper 4 is stirred and a predetermined amount thereof is carried out from the opening 9 to the developing section 8. However, the toner t is supplied to the developing unit 8 along the elastic seal member 12 after passing through the opening 9, and is conveyed to the developing sleeve 2 side by the rotation of the stirring member 15 in the developing unit 8 in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Used for development. At this time, since the shutter 13 and the developing container 3 are sealed by the elastic sealing members 11 and 12 provided on the developing container 3 side as described above, the toner t enters between the shutter 13 and the developing container 3. And the contamination of the operator's hands and the like due to the adhesion of the toner t to the outer peripheral surface of the hopper 4 is prevented.

When the hopper 4 is replaced with a new one because the toner t in the hopper 4 has been consumed and the amount thereof has decreased, the hopper 4 is changed from the state shown in FIG.
Is rotated in the direction of the arrow until the engaging projection 41 contacts the stopper 31 on the side of the developing container 3.

Then, the other engaging projection 42 of the hopper 4 comes into contact with the end surface of the guide member 10 to rotate the guide member 10 and the shutter 13 attached thereto in the same direction, so that it is attached to the surface of the shutter 13. Toner t
₁ (see FIG. 4) is scraped off by the elastic seal member 11 to prevent the toner t _{1 from} entering between the shutter 13 and the developing container 3. Further, while the guide member 10 and the shutter 13 are rotating in the same direction in conjunction with the rotation of the hopper 4, the shutter 13 and the hopper 4 rotate integrally and no relative rotation occurs between them. The opening 9 of the hopper 4 has elastic shutter members 131, 1 on the shutter 13 side.
The toner t is still kept sealed by 32. Therefore, even while the hopper 4 is rotating, the toner t leaks out from the opening 9 of the hopper 4 and adheres to the outer peripheral surface of the hopper 4. There is nothing to do.

Then, as shown in FIG. 2, if the hopper 4 is pulled out to the front side with the opening 9 of the hopper 4 facing upward, the hopper 4 can be removed from the developing device main body 50A. As described above, since the adhesion of the toner t to the outer peripheral surface of the hopper 4 is prevented, the operator's hands and the like are not contaminated even in this case.

After removing the old hopper 4 from the developing device main body 50A as described above, the new hopper 4 may be attached to the developing device main body 50A in the same manner as described above.

[0042]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the toner can be attached to and detached from the main body of the developing device, the toner is stored inside, and the opening is formed in a part of the outer periphery. In the toner container in which the toner can be carried out from the opening by rotating the developing device body after being inserted and set, the developing device body comes into contact with a stopper formed on the developing device body side, and the developing device body Since a plurality of engaging means for abutting against the blocking means provided on the main body side to rotate them integrally are formed on the outer circumference, the toner container acts on the blocking means during the rotation operation in the developing device main body. The effect of being able to prevent toner from adhering to the outer circumference of the toner container is obtained by integrally rotating the toner container.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a developing device having a developing section for carrying out development including conveyance of toner, and mounting a toner container for accommodating the toner and supplying the toner to the developing section. A blocking unit having an opening wider than the opening of the toner container is provided between the developing unit and the toner container, and the opening of the blocking unit is in the form of a sheet-like elastic member that abuts on the outer periphery near the opening of the toner container. A sheet-like elastic seal member is provided in the developing unit, which is provided with a seal member and which contacts the outer periphery of the toner container by penetrating the opening of the blocking unit when replenishing the toner and contacts the outer periphery of the blocking unit when the toner container is attached and detached. Since it is provided, it is possible to prevent the toner from entering between the toner container and the developing unit, and prevent the outer circumference of the toner container from being attached or detached and the contamination of the operator's hand. It is.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a developing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a state of the developing device according to the present invention when the hopper is attached and detached.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged detailed view of the vicinity of the toner outlet of FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged detailed view of the vicinity of the toner discharge port of FIG.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a conventional developing device.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a conventional developing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 3 developing container 4 hopper (toner container) 8 developing part 9 opening of hopper 10 guide member (sliding member) 11, 12 elastic seal member 13 shutter (blocking means) 14 shutter opening 31, 32 stopper (regulating means) 41, 42 Engaging projections (engaging means) 50 Developing device 50A Developing device main body 131, 132 Elastic seal member t Toner

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A developing device main body, which is detachable from the main body of the developing device, accommodates toner therein, has an opening in a part of its outer periphery, and is rotated after being inserted and set in the main body of the developing device. As a result, in the toner container in which the toner can be carried out from the opening portion, the toner container is brought into contact with the regulating means formed on the developing device main body side and is also brought into contact with the blocking means provided on the developing device main body side. A toner container characterized in that a plurality of engaging means for integrally rotating are formed on the outer periphery. 2. A developing device having a developing section for carrying out development including conveyance of toner, wherein a toner container for accommodating toner and replenishing it to the developing section can be mounted, said developing section and toner container A blocking means having an opening wider than the opening of the toner container is provided between the opening and the opening of the blocking means,
A sheet-like elastic seal member is provided that contacts the outer periphery of the toner container in the vicinity of the opening, and penetrates the opening of the blocking unit to contact the outer periphery of the toner container when replenishing the toner, and disconnects the toner container when the toner container is attached and detached. A developing device, wherein a sheet-like elastic seal member that abuts the outer periphery of the developing unit is provided in the developing unit. 3. The blocking means rotates in association with the rotation operation of the toner container, and the opening of the blocking means and the opening of the toner container maintain a positional relationship in which they are always in communication with each other. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the developing device is a developing device. 4. The developing device according to claim 3, wherein the blocking means is fixed to a sliding member, and only the sliding member comes into contact with a sliding surface and rotates together with the blocking means. 5. The developing device according to claim 3, wherein the toner container is provided with an engagement means for interlocking the rotation of the blocking means and the rotation of the sliding member with the rotation of the toner container. 6. The developing container main body is provided with a regulating means for regulating the rotation angle of the toner container and the blocking means by contacting the engaging means when the toner container and the blocking means are rotated. The developing device according to claim 5. 7. The developing device according to claim 2, wherein the blocking means is made of a non-magnetic material.