JPH10198147A - Toner replenishment device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent toner agglomeration in toner storage containers and, therefore, to prevent degradation in toner fluidity by providing a plurality of toner storage containers, and providing container rotation means which rotate all the toner storage containers at the toner replenishment time. SOLUTION: The toner replenishment device 1 has a first toner bottle 3 and a second toner bottle 4, each serving as the toner storage container for keeping toner in it. This device 1 is mainly composed of bottle hold means 10 and 40 for holding the toner bottles 3 and 4, respectively, bottle rotation means 20 and 50 serving as the container rotation means for rotating the toner bottles 3 and 4 when a developing device is replenished with the toner, and cap opening/closing means 30 and 60 which open/close the caps 3A and 4A of the toner bottles 3 and 4, respectively. The bottle rotation means 20 is mainly composed of a joint unit 21 which engages with the bottom of the first toner bottle 3, and a motor 22, with a speed reducer, which rotates and drives the joint unit 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device used for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile, and the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrostatic image forming apparatus, an electrostatic latent image formed on a photoreceptor is visualized by adhesion of toner supplied from a developing device and is transferred to a recording sheet. Then, the visible image transferred to the recording paper is fixed on the recording paper by a fixing device. Since the toner is consumed by the development, the toner is replenished to the developing device by the toner replenishing device in order to compensate for the consumption of the toner. FIG. 14 shows a schematic configuration of the developing device and the toner replenishing device. The developing device 80 includes a first stirring roller 83 and a second stirring roller 8 arranged in a developing box 82 that stores a developer 81 including a toner 94 and a carrier.
4. The developing roller 85 is provided. First stirring roller 8
The toner supply pipe 86 is inserted into the shaft 3. The toner supply pipe 86 extends to the outside of the developing box 82, and a tip of the toner supply pipe 86 is connected to a toner supply device 90.

[0003] The toner replenishing device 90 includes a toner container holder 92 for holding a toner container 91 and a motor 93 with a speed reducer for rotating the toner container 91. When the toner container 91 held by the toner container holder 92 is rotated by the motor 93 with a speed reducer, the toner 94 is sent toward the toner outlet 96 by a spiral projection 95 formed on the inner surface of the toner container 91. The toner is discharged from the toner outlet 96 to the toner discharge pipe 97, and is supplied to the developing device 80 via the toner discharge pipe 97 and the toner supply pipe 86. In the developing device 80, the developer 81 is sent to the developing roller 85 via the first stirring roller 83 and the second stirring roller 84, and is supplied to the photosensitive member 99 by the developing roller 85 and used for development. You.

[0004]

In an image forming apparatus having a small number of copies, toner supply to the developing device is sufficient by the above-described toner replenishing apparatus. In the case where the width of the recording paper is wide, the amount of toner consumption increases, the number of replacements of the toner bottle increases, and it takes time and effort to replace the toner bottle.

Therefore, the capacity of the toner bottle is increased.
That is, a method of increasing the size of the toner bottle has been proposed. However, an increase in the size of the toner bottle causes a problem of an increase in the size of the image forming apparatus. Therefore, there is a limit to the size of the toner bottle due to the reduction in the size of the image forming apparatus. When the size of the toner bottle is increased, a large rotational driving force is required when rotating the toner bottle, and there is a possibility that the rotation of the toner bottle becomes difficult. If the rotation of the toner bottle becomes difficult, there is a problem that the toner supply becomes difficult. Further, if a method of pumping toner by using a pump or the like instead of rotation of the toner bottle for transporting the toner from the inside of the toner bottle to the toner outlet is adopted, there is a problem that the cost increases.

[0006] Instead of increasing the size of the toner bottle, a method of mounting a plurality of toner bottles is also conceivable. However, in this method, the fluidity of the toner in the toner bottle in which toner supply is performed late is deteriorated. It is difficult to transport the toner from the inside of the toner bottle to the toner outlet, and the remaining amount of toner in the toner bottle increases. Further, there is another problem that the toner whose fluidity has deteriorated adheres to the inner wall of the bottle, and the remaining amount of toner in the toner bottle increases.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner replenishing apparatus capable of preventing a deterioration in fluidity of toner in a toner bottle.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
Having a plurality of toner storage containers, of these toner storage containers, by rotating the toner storage container for supplying toner,
A toner replenishing device for replenishing the toner in the toner container to the developing device, and having a container rotating means for rotating all the toner containers when replenishing the toner.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a plurality of toner storage containers are provided, and among these toner storage containers, the toner storage container for supplying toner is rotated to transfer the toner in the toner storage container to the developing device. In a toner replenishing device for replenishing toner, a toner container for replenishing toner at the time of toner replenishment is a first toner container, and a toner container other than the first toner container is a second toner container. Further, a container rotating means for stopping the rotation of the second toner container at the time of toner supply and rotating the second toner container for a predetermined time other than at the time of toner supply.

[0010] The third aspect of the present invention is the first or second aspect.
In the above-described toner supply device, the container rotation unit is configured to prohibit rotation of the toner container after toner supply is completed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing apparatus according to the first, second, or third aspect, an impact means for applying a slight impact to the toner container according to the rotation of the toner container is provided.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the operation timings of the respective impact means are mutually adjusted so that the operation timings of applying a light impact to the respective toner storage containers by the respective impact means do not overlap. The configuration is shifted.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes a toner supply device of the present invention. Below the toner supply device 1,
A developing device (not shown) is provided. The toner supply device 1 and the developing device are connected via a toner supply passage 2, and toner is supplied from the toner supply device 1 to the developing device through the toner supply passage 2. The developing device is
Since the configuration is substantially the same as that of the developing device 80 described with reference to FIG.
The description is omitted.

The toner replenishing device 1 includes a first toner bottle 3 as a toner storage container for storing toner and a second toner bottle 3.
Of the toner bottle 4. Toner bottles 3, 4
Are arranged one above the other, that is, the first toner bottle 3 is arranged below the second toner bottle 4. Since it has two toner bottles, the first and second toner bottles 3 and 4, even if the toner consumption is large,
The number of times of replacing the toner bottle is reduced, and the labor required for replacing the toner bottle can be reduced.

The toner replenishing device 1 comprises bottle holding means 10 and 40 for holding the toner bottles 3 and 4 respectively.
Bottle rotating means 20 as container rotating means for rotating toner bottles 3 and 4 when toner is supplied to the developing device;
50, and cap opening / closing means 30 and 60 for opening and closing the caps 3A and 4A of the toner bottles 3 and 4, respectively. Each means can be operated independently, and its operation is controlled by control means 70 described later.

The bottle holding means 10, 40 and the cap opening / closing means 30, 60 provided corresponding to the first and second toner bottles 3, 4, respectively, have the same configuration, so that the first and second toner bottles will be hereinafter referred to as the first and second toner bottles. In the following, each unit corresponding to the toner bottle 3 will be described, and description of each unit corresponding to the second toner bottle 4 will be omitted.

Since the first and second toner bottles 3 and 4 have the same configuration, only the first toner bottle 3 will be described, and the second toner bottle 4 will correspond to the first toner bottle 3. It will be marked with a sign. The first toner bottle 3 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a helical groove 3a protruding inside the first toner bottle 3 is formed on a peripheral surface thereof. To the discharge port 3b. A cap 3A for preventing toner discharge when not in use is fitted in the toner discharge port 3b.

On the peripheral surface of the first toner bottle 3 and on the side of the discharge port 3b, a ridge 3c protruding outside the first toner bottle 3 is formed. The ridge 3c is fitted to a sleeve 11 of the bottle holding means 10 which will be described later. As shown in FIG. 2, on the bottom of the first toner bottle 3, a cylindrical protrusion 3 d and a pair of prismatic protrusions 3 e, 3 e with which a joint 210 described later of the bottle rotating means 20 engages. Are formed respectively. The protrusion 3d is provided substantially at the center of the bottom of the first toner bottle 3, and the protrusions 3e, 3e are provided.
Are provided as targets for the projection 3d.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4, the bottle holding means 10 is provided on the side wall of the toner supply passage 2, holds the discharge port 3b of the toner bottle 3, and is fitted with the ridge 3c. It comprises a sleeve 11 to be combined and a support portion 12 for rotatably supporting the sleeve 11.

The sleeve 11 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a diameter larger than the diameter of the first toner bottle 3, and has a rib 11 slidably in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the support portion 12.
a, 11b are provided. A stopper 11c that regulates the position of the first toner bottle 3 is provided in a portion of the sleeve 11 corresponding to the vicinity of the discharge port 3b of the first toner bottle 3.

The support portion 12 is formed integrally with the side wall of the toner supply passage 2 and is formed in a cylindrical shape for accommodating the sleeve 11. A claw 12a that engages with the rib 11a to prevent the sleeve 11 from dropping is provided on the outer peripheral portion. Between the first toner bottle 3 and the sleeve 11 and between the sleeve 11 and the support portion 12, seal members 13 and 13 made of an elastic member for preventing leakage of toner are provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, a cap opening / closing means 30 is provided on the side wall of the toner supply passage 2 opposite to the bottle holding means 10. The cap opening / closing means 30 includes a collet chuck 31 for holding or opening the cap 3A, and a cylindrical case 3 for accommodating the collet chuck 31.
2, a main body 33 in which the collet chuck 31 and the cylindrical case 32 are integrally fixed, a coil spring 34 that constantly urges the main body 33 toward the first toner bottle 3, and moves the main body 33 forward and backward. And a solenoid 35 for operating the motor. In the figure, reference numeral 36 is a seal member.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, in the toner supply passage 2, a second
Cover 3 to avoid toner falling from toner bottle 4
Reference numeral 7 is provided so as to cover the cap opening / closing means 30 and the discharge port 3b of the first toner bottle 3. In the portion of the toner supply passage 2 where the cover 37 is provided, the width of the supply passage is wider than the other supply passages in order to secure a passage for the toner falling from the second toner bottle 4. The cover 37 is provided only for the cap opening / closing means 30 and the first toner bottle 3.

Behind the bottom of the first toner bottle 3,
Bottle rotation means 20 is provided. The bottle rotating means 20 mainly includes a joint unit 21 that engages with the bottom of the first toner bottle 3 and a motor 22 with a speed reducer that drives the joint unit 21 to rotate.

The joint unit 21 is supported at the tip of a rotating shaft 22a of the motor 22 so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction. A gear 23 is provided between the joint unit 21 and the motor 22, and the gear 23 is a rotating shaft 22a.
It is fixed to. Joint unit 21 and gear 23
A coil spring 24 that urges the joint unit 21 toward the first toner bottle 3 is interposed between the first and second toner bottles 3.

The joint unit 21 includes a joint 210 that engages with the bottom of the first toner bottle 3 and a clutch 211 that connects and disconnects the rotational driving force of the motor 22 to and from the joint 210. FIG.
As shown in the figure, a concave portion 210a with which the convex portion 3d is engaged and a pair of convex portions 3e, 3e are provided at the distal end of the joint portion 210.
Are formed between the projections 210b and 210b. The convex portions 210b, 210b are formed integrally with the concave portion 210a. By engaging the concave portion 210a and the convex portion 3d with each other, the bottom of the first toner bottle 3 is held, and the pair of convex portions 3e, 3e and the pair of convex portions 210 are held.
The rotation of the joint 210 is transmitted to the first toner bottle 3 by the engagement between the first toner bottle 3 and the second toner bottle 3. The clutch unit 211 is a known clutch, and transmits the rotational force of the motor 22 to the first toner bottle 3 when not operating, and disconnects the rotation shaft 22a of the motor 22 from the joint unit 210 when operating.

On the other hand, the bottle rotating means 50 is fixed to the shaft 51, which is rotatably supported by a side plate of a device (not shown), at a tip end thereof, and a joint unit 52 which is supported so as to be able to advance and retreat in the axial direction. And a coil spring 54 interposed between the joint unit 52 and the gear 53. The joint unit 52 has the same configuration as the joint unit 21, and includes a joint 520 that engages with the bottom of the second toner bottle 4, and a clutch that disconnects and connects the rotational driving force of the gear 53 to the joint 520. 521.

Between the gear 23 and the gear 53, the two gears 2
An idler gear 75 meshing with both 3 and 53 is provided. The idler gear 75 is fixed to a shaft 76,
The shaft 76 is rotatably supported by a side plate of a device (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 6, the cap opening / closing means 3
0, 60 solenoids 35, 65, bottle rotating means 2
The respective clutches 211 and 521 of 0 and 50 and the motor 22 of the bottle rotating means 20 are connected to a control means 70 provided at a predetermined position of the apparatus. Further, a toner density sensor 71 provided in the developing device is connected to the control means 70, and the control means 70 controls the operation of each of the above-described means based on information from the toner density sensor 71. .

Hereinafter, a toner supply operation by the toner supply device 1 will be described. First, while fitting the ridge 3c of the first toner bottle 3 into the sleeve 11, the shoulder of the first toner bottle 3 is brought into contact with the stopper 11c, and the discharge port 3b side of the first toner bottle 3 is moved. It is positioned with respect to the sleeve 11. After the positioning of the first toner bottle 3 on the side of the discharge port 3b, the joint 2 is attached to the bottom of the first toner bottle 3.
10 is engaged, and the bottom of the first toner bottle 3 </ b> A is held by the joint 210. As described above, the discharge port 3b side and the bottom side of the first toner bottle 3
The first toner bottle 3 is attached to the toner replenishing device 1 by being held by the joint unit 1 and the joint unit 210, respectively. Similarly to the first toner bottle 3, the second toner bottle 4 is held by the sleeve 41 and the joint 520, and is mounted on the toner supply device 1.

When the mounting of the first and second toner bottles 3 and 4 to the toner replenishing device 1 is completed, of the first and second toner bottles 3 and 4, the toner bottle for which toner replenishment is first performed. Then, the cap 3A of the first toner bottle 3 is opened. The opening of the cap 3A is controlled by the control means 7.
It is performed by a command from 0. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, when the solenoid 35 is operated in a state where the first toner bottle 3 is mounted on the toner replenishing device 1, the main body 33 is moved in the arrow Y direction in the figure. The collet chuck 31 also moves in the direction of arrow Y with the movement of the main body 33, and the collet chuck 31 clamps the cap 3A. In this state, if the movement further proceeds in the arrow Y direction,
As shown in FIG.
The cap 3A of the toner bottle 3 is removed from the discharge port 3b, and the toner in the first toner bottle 3 can flow out into the toner supply passage 2.

The toner replenishment is performed based on the detected toner concentration, by detecting the toner concentration in the developing device by the toner concentration sensor 71. The information of the toner density by the toner density sensor 71 is input to the control means 70, and when the detected value by the toner density sensor 71 is equal to or lower than the toner supply reference density, the control means 70 operates the bottle rotating means 20. When the motor 22 of the bottle rotating means 20 operates, the rotational driving force of the motor 22 is transmitted to the joint 210 via the clutch 211 and the joint 210
Is rotated. By the rotation of the joint 210, the protrusions 210b, 210b of the joint 210 are engaged between the protrusions 3e, 3e of the first toner bottle 3, and the first toner bottle 3 also rotates. When the first toner bottle 3 rotates, the toner in the first toner bottle 3 is conveyed to the discharge port 3d by the groove 3a, discharged from the discharge port 3d, and flows out to the toner supply passage 2.

Next, each rotation operation of the first and second toner bottles 3 and 4 will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7 (a), 7 (b) and 7 (c). FIG. 7A shows a state in which the first toner bottle 3 supplies toner to the developing device. As described above, the toner supply to the developing device by the first toner bottle 3 is performed by first opening the cap 3A of the first toner bottle 3 by the cap opening / closing means 30,
Thereafter, the rotation is performed by rotating the first toner bottle 3 by the bottle rotating means 20. The rotation of the first toner bottle 3 is performed by the motor 22, and the rotation driving force of the motor 22 is transmitted from the gear 23 through the idler gear 75 to the gear 5.
3 and the shaft 51 also rotates. At this time, since the clutch 521 of the bottle rotating means 50 is in the non-operating state, the rotational driving force of the shaft 51 is transmitted to the joint 520. Therefore, while toner supply is being performed by the first toner bottle 3, the second toner bottle 4 is also rotated.

Therefore, when the first toner bottle 3 supplies toner, the second toner bottle 4 is also rotated.
The toner in the second toner bottle 4 is agitated. By this toner stirring, aggregation of the toner in the second toner bottle 4 in which the order of toner supply is late is prevented, deterioration of the fluidity of the toner can be prevented, and the toner can be maintained in a good state. Further, since the toner is maintained in a good state, the adhesion of the toner to the inner wall of the bottle can be reduced, and the toner in the toner bottle can be effectively supplied to the developing device.

FIG. 7B shows a state in which supply of toner to the developing device by the first toner bottle 3 is temporarily stopped. If the value detected by the toner density sensor 71 satisfies the toner replenishment reference density during toner replenishment, the control means 70 stops the operation of the bottle rotating means 20 and the first
Is temporarily suspended. When the bottle rotation means 20 stops, the driving of the motor 22 also stops, and the rotation of the second toner bottle 4 also stops.

The above toner replenishment is repeated, and the toner in the first toner bottle 3 is completely replenished to the developing device.
When the toner supply by the first toner bottle 3 is completed, the toner bottle to be supplied with toner is switched from the first toner bottle 3 to the second toner bottle 4, and the toner supply is continued. This state is shown in FIG.

The end of toner replenishment by the first toner bottle 3 is determined by the control means 70 based on the toner density after replenishing the toner for a predetermined time at the time of toner replenishment. That is, at the time of toner replenishment, if the value detected by the toner density sensor 71 is equal to or less than the toner replenishment reference density even if toner replenishment by the first toner bottle 3 is performed for a predetermined time.
It is determined that there is no toner in the first toner bottle 3.

The switching operation of the toner bottle for replenishing the toner is performed by closing the cap 3A of the first toner bottle 3 by the cap opening / closing means 30 and then turning the bottle rotating means 2 on.
By operating the clutch 211 of 0, the connection between the joint 210 and the shaft 22a is cut off. The toner supply by the second toner bottle 4 is performed by opening the cap 4A of the second toner bottle 4 by the cap opening / closing means 60 in the same manner as in the case of the first toner bottle 3. The rotation is performed by driving the second toner bottle 4 by driving the second toner bottle 22. The rotational driving force of the motor 22 is transmitted from the gear 23 via the idler gear 75 to the gear 53.
To rotate the shaft 51. At this time, since the clutch 521 of the bottle rotating unit 50 is in the non-operating state, the rotational driving force of the shaft 51 is transmitted to the joint 520, and the second toner bottle 4 is rotated. Further, since the clutch 211 of the bottle rotating means 20 is in the operating state, the rotational driving force of the shaft 22a is not transmitted to the joint 210, and the first toner bottle 3 does not rotate. Therefore, the first toner bottle 3 does not rotate while the toner is being supplied by the second toner bottle 4, so that the occurrence of noise or the like due to the rotation of the toner bottle whose toner supply has been completed can be prevented. 22 can be reduced.

As described above, when the toner bottle for supplying toner is switched, and the toner in the first and second toner bottles 3 and 4 runs out, that is, the toner in the first and second toner bottles 3 and 4 is changed. When all of the
Notifies that the toner bottle has been replaced. Further, when the toner in one of the first and second toner bottles 3 and 4 runs out, the replacement of the toner bottle may be notified. In the present embodiment, the first toner bottle 3 is used for replenishing the toner first, but the second toner bottle 4 may be used for replenishing the toner before the first toner bottle 3.
In this case, the above-described rotation control of the toner bottle is reversed.

Next, a second embodiment is shown in FIG. 8, and this embodiment will be described. In FIG.
Indicates a toner supply device of the present invention. Toner supply device 1
Below 00, a developing device (not shown) having substantially the same configuration as the developing device 80 described with reference to FIG. The toner supply device 100 and the developing device are connected via a toner supply passage 102, and the toner supply device 1
From 00, toner is supplied to the developing device through the toner supply passage 102.

The toner replenishing device 100 includes a first toner bottle 10 serving as a toner container for containing toner.
3 and a second toner bottle 104. The toner bottles 103 and 104 are arranged one above the other, that is, the first toner bottle 103 is arranged below the second toner bottle 104. Toner supply device 10
Reference numeral 0 denotes bottle holding units 110 and 140 for holding the toner bottles 103 and 104, respectively, and bottle rotating units 120 and 15 as container rotating units for rotating the toner bottles 103 and 104 when supplying toner to the developing device.
0 and each cap 103 of the toner bottles 103 and 104
A, opening and closing means 130, 16 for opening and closing A, 104A
It mainly consists of 0. Each means can be operated independently, and its operation is controlled by control means 170 described later.

The respective means provided corresponding to the first and second toner bottles 103 and 104 have the same configuration, so that the first toner bottle 10 will be described below.
3 will be described, and description of each unit corresponding to the second toner bottle 104 will be omitted.

First and second toner bottles 103 and 104
Have the same configuration, the first toner bottle 10
3 will be described, and the description of the second toner bottle 104 will be omitted, with only the reference numerals corresponding to those of the first toner bottle 103 attached. The first toner bottle 103 is formed in a cylindrical shape, and a helical groove 103a protruding inside the first toner bottle 3 is formed on the peripheral surface thereof. To the discharge port 103b. A cap 103 for preventing toner discharge when not in use is provided in the toner discharge port 103b.
A is inset. On the peripheral surface of the first toner bottle 103, on the side of the ejection port 103b, a ridge 1 locked by a locking portion 113 of the bottle holding means 110 described later.
03c is formed. The protruding ridge 103c is formed to protrude outside the first toner bottle 103.

On the peripheral surface of the first toner bottle 103 and near the ridge 103c, the first toner bottle 10
3 is provided with one convex portion 103d protruding outward. The convex portion 103 d is formed in a hemispherical shape, protrudes 0.5 mm from the peripheral surface of the first toner bottle 103, and forms a step on the peripheral surface of the first toner bottle 103. Here, assuming that the height from the peripheral surface of the first toner bottle 103 to the apex of the convex portion 103d is h, in the present embodiment, h is set to 0.5 mm. It is better to satisfy 0.5 mm.

As shown in FIG. 8, the bottle holding means 110
A sleeve 111 provided on a side wall of the toner supply passage 102 and holding the first toner bottle 103;
A support 112 for rotatably supporting the sleeve 111
Locking portion 113 for locking the first toner bottle 103
It is composed of

The sleeve 111 is provided with the first toner bottle 1
It has a shape corresponding to the ejection port 103b of No. 03, and is held so as to cover the ejection port 103b. On the peripheral surface of the sleeve 111, a gear ring 111a is formed. Discharge port 103b of first toner bottle 103 of sleeve 111
A stopper 111b that regulates the position of the first toner bottle 103 is provided at a portion corresponding to the vicinity. The support portion 112 is formed integrally with the side wall of the toner supply passage 2 and is formed in a cylindrical shape that accommodates the sleeve 111. On the upper part of the support part 112, a locking part 113 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 9A, the locking portion 113 is composed of an arm 113a swingably supported on the peripheral surface of the supporting portion 112. The arm 113a is
Extends substantially in the axial direction of the toner bottle 103, and a substantially central portion thereof is supported by the support portion 11 via a pin 112a and a spring 112b.
2 supported. The spring 112b is connected to the arm 113a
Is urged toward the first toner bottle 103. The swinging end of the arm 113a engages with the ridge 103c of the first toner bottle 103, and the claw 113 that slides on the peripheral surface of the first toner bottle 103 and the projection 103d.
b. A low friction layer is provided on the peripheral surface of the first toner bottle 103 and on a portion of the claw portion 113b that comes into sliding contact with the convex portion 103d.

The claw portion 113b is connected to the first toner bottle 10
Each time the third roller 3 rotates, it gets over the convex portion 103d, and immediately after overcoming the convex portion 103d, a slight impact is applied to the peripheral surface of the first toner bottle 103 by the urging force of the spring 112b. The locking portion 113 constitutes an impact unit that applies an impact to the first toner bottle 103 in accordance with the rotation of the first toner bottle 103.

In FIG. 8, a cap opening / closing means 130 is provided on a side wall of the toner supply passage 102 opposite to the bottle holding means 110. Cap opening / closing means 130
Is a cap 103A similar to the cap opening / closing means 30.
A collet chuck 131 for holding or releasing the
Solenoid 1 for moving collet chuck 131 forward and backward
32 mainly. Toner supply passage 102
Inside the cap opening / closing means 130,
A cover 135 is provided to cover the cap opening / closing means 30 so as to prevent toner from falling from the toner bottle 104. The cover 135 is provided only for the cap opening / closing means 130 similarly to the cover 37.

Below the support 112, a bottle rotating means 120 is provided. The bottle rotating means 120 includes a motor 121 and a gear 122 fixed to an output shaft of the motor 121. The gear 122 meshes with the gear ring 111a. The rotational driving force of the motor 121 is transmitted to the sleeve 111 via the gear 122 and the gear ring 111a, whereby the first toner bottle 103 is rotationally driven.

As shown in FIG. 10, the cap opening / closing means 1
The solenoids 132 and 162 of the bottles 30 and 160 and the motors 121 and 151 of the bottle rotating units 120 and 150 are connected to the control unit 170 disposed at a predetermined position of the apparatus. Further, a toner density sensor 71 provided in the developing device is connected to the control means 170, and the control means 70 controls the operation of each of the above-described means based on information from the toner density sensor 71. .

Hereinafter, a toner supply operation by the toner supply device 100 will be described. First toner bottle 103
By engaging the projections 103c with the claw portions 113b while fitting the ejection port 103b side of the
The toner bottle 103 is positioned at a predetermined position in the sleeve 111 and is attached to the toner supply device 100.
The second toner bottle 104 is also the first toner bottle 10
As in the case of No. 3, it is held by the sleeve 141 and the claw portion 143b, and is attached to the toner supply device 100.

When the mounting of the first and second toner bottles 103 and 104 into the toner supply device 100 is completed, the first and second toner bottles 103 and 104 are
Of the toner bottles 103 and 104, the toner bottle to be supplied with toner first, in this embodiment, the cap 103A of the first toner bottle 103 is opened. The opening operation of the cap 103A is performed in the same manner as in the first embodiment, and the solenoid 132 is operated by a command from the control unit 170.
Is operated, and the collet chuck 131 is retreated and moved.

FIGS. 11 (a) and 11 (b) show the rotation operation and toner supply of the first and second toner bottles 103 and 104.
This will be described in detail with reference to (b) and (c). FIG.
11A illustrates a state in which toner is being supplied by the first toner bottle 103, and FIG. 11B illustrates a state in which supply of toner to the developing device by the first toner bottle 103 is temporarily stopped. FIG. 11C shows a state in which toner is being supplied by the second toner bottle 104.

In FIG. 11A, when the developing operation is repeatedly performed and the toner density in the developing device decreases and the value detected by the toner density sensor 71 becomes lower than the toner replenishment reference density, the control means is activated. Motor 12 by 170
1 is activated. The operation of the motor 121 causes the first toner bottle 103 to rotate, and the first toner bottle 103
The toner inside is transported to the discharge port 103b by the groove 103a, discharged from the discharge port 103b, and flows out to the toner supply passage 102. While the first toner bottle 103 is rotating, that is, when the motor 121 is operating,
The motor 151 is stopped.

When the toner replenishment is performed by the first toner bottle 103 and the value detected by the toner density sensor 71 satisfies the toner replenishment reference density, the control unit 170 stops the motor 121 and the first toner The toner supply by the bottle 103 is temporarily stopped. When the toner supply by the first toner bottle 103 is temporarily interrupted, that is, when the toner concentration sensor 71
When no signal is output to the control unit 70,
Rotates the second toner bottle 104 by rotating the motor 151 for a predetermined time. If the value detected by the toner density sensor 71 falls below the toner replenishment reference density during the operation of the motor 151, the control means 170 stops the motor 151 and operates the motor 121 as described above.

Therefore, when the toner supply is not performed, the order of the toner supply is late.
04 is rotated so that the second toner bottle 1
04 is stirred to prevent toner aggregation,
Deterioration of the fluidity of the toner can be prevented. In this embodiment,
In order to prevent toner aggregation in the second toner bottle 104, the second toner bottle 104 is
The second toner bottle 104 may be rotated based on a predetermined number of times of the day, when the signal is not output to the control unit 170 from the second time.

When toner replenishment is repeatedly performed by the first toner bottle 103, and the toner in the first toner bottle 103 runs out, the toner bottle to be replenished is replaced with the second toner bottle from the first toner bottle 103. Switch to bottle 104. In this switching operation, the cap 103A of the first toner bottle 103 is closed by the cap opening / closing means 130, and then the cap opening / closing means 160
The cap 104A of the second toner bottle 104
This is performed by opening the cap. Second toner bottle 1
The toner supply by 04 is performed in the same manner as in the case of the first toner bottle 103. When the second toner bottle 104 is rotating, that is, when the motor 151 is operating, the motor 121 is stopped.

The operation of the locking portion 113 during rotation of the first toner bottle 103 will be described. In the above-described toner supply operation, the projection 103d approaches the claw 113b with the rotation of the first toner bottle 103. As the rotation of the first toner bottle 103 advances, the claw 1
13b is over the convex portion 103d (see FIG. 9A), and immediately after the overcoming (see FIG. 9B), the spring 112b.
By the urging force of b, the peripheral surface of the first toner bottle 103 is hit, and a slight impact is applied to the first toner bottle 103.
This impact is applied to the first toner bottle 103 every time the first toner bottle 103 makes one rotation. Due to this impact, the toner attached to the inner wall of the first toner bottle 103 is peeled off from the inner wall. Therefore, the remaining amount of toner in the first toner bottle 103 can be reduced, and the toner in the first toner bottle 103 can be effectively supplied to the developing device.

As described with reference to FIGS. 11A, 11B, and 11C, the state in which toner is supplied to the developing device by the first and second toner bottles 103 and 104, or
In any state in which the supply of toner to the developing device by the toner bottle 103 is temporarily stopped, one of the first and second toner bottles 103 and 104 is rotating, and the other is not. Has stopped. Therefore, both bottles do not rotate together and the locking portion 1
The operation timing of applying an impact to each of the toner bottles 103 and 104 by 13 and 143 does not overlap each other. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the noise generated due to the impact from overlapping and increasing.

In this embodiment, the locking portion 1 is used as an impact means.
Although 13 and 143 are used, means for vibrating the toner bottles may be provided for each of the toner bottles instead of the locking portions 113 and 143. In this case, if the operation timing for applying vibration to the toner bottle is independently controlled for each toner bottle, the operation timing can be prevented from overlapping. As in the case of the first embodiment, the toner bottle to be supplied with toner is switched, and when the toner in the first and second toner bottles 103 and 104 runs out, the replacement of the toner bottle is notified. Further, when the toner in one of the first and second toner bottles 103 and 104 runs out, the replacement of the toner bottle may be notified. In the first and second embodiments, the solenoid is used as a means for moving the collet chuck for opening and closing the cap. However, instead of this solenoid, a means including a rack, a pinion, and a motor may be used. .

Next, a third embodiment is shown in FIG. 12, and this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, the first toner bottle 300 and the second toner bottle 301 are arranged in parallel with each other in the lateral direction of the apparatus, that is, the first toner bottle 300 and the second The two toner bottles 301 are arranged in parallel with each other. Gears 300a and 301a are provided on the bottoms of the first and second toner bottles 300 and 301, respectively, integrally with the respective bottles. An idler gear 302 rotatably supported by a side plate of a device (not shown) is disposed between the gears 300a and 301a, and the idler gear 302 meshes with the gears 300a and 301a, respectively. Gear 3
On the end surface of the first toner bottle 00a, a convex portion 3d of the first toner bottle 3 and a pair of prismatic convex portions 3e, 3 in the first embodiment are provided.
Similarly to e, a columnar projection 300b and a pair of prismatic projections 300c, 300c are formed, respectively. A columnar projection 301b and a pair of prismatic projections 301c, 301c are similarly formed on the end face of the gear 301a.

At a position facing the bottom of the first toner bottle 300, a bottle rotating means 303 for rotating the first toner bottle 300 is provided. One bottle rotation unit 303 is provided corresponding to only the first toner bottle 300. That is, the bottle rotating means 303
The first and second toner bottles 300 and 301 rotate together. The bottle rotating means 303 includes a joint unit 304 that engages with the bottom of the first toner bottle 300.
And a motor 305 with a speed reducer for driving the joint unit 304 to rotate.

The joint unit 304 includes the motor 30
The fifth rotating shaft 305a is supported at the tip thereof so as to be able to advance and retreat in this axial direction. Joint unit 304 and motor 30
5, a coil spring 306 that urges the joint unit 304 toward the first toner bottle 300 is interposed.

According to this configuration, the joint unit 3
04 engages with the first toner bottle 300 and rotates the first toner bottle 300, so that the toner in the first toner bottle 300 is supplied to the developing device. By rotating the first toner bottle 300, the gear 300a is rotated, and the gear 301a is also rotated via the idler gear 302. Therefore, when the first toner bottle 300 supplies toner, the first toner bottle 30
With the rotation of 0, the second toner bottle 301 is also rotated, so that the toner in the second toner bottle 301 is agitated. The toner agitation prevents the toner in the second toner bottle 301 from being replenished in a slower order of toner supply, prevents the toner from being deteriorated in fluidity, and maintains the toner in a good state. The first and second toner bottles 30
Since only one bottle rotating means 303 for rotating 0 and 301 is required, the apparatus can be simplified and the cost can be reduced.

FIG. 13 shows a fourth embodiment, and this embodiment will be described. The fourth embodiment, like the second embodiment, relates to a toner replenishing device in which the discharge port side of a toner bottle is fitted to a sleeve and the toner bottle is rotated together with the sleeve. As shown in FIG. 13, between the sleeve 401 in which the first toner bottle 400 is fitted, and the sleeve 403 in which the second toner bottle 402 is fitted, the gear rings 401a,
An idler gear 404 meshing with 403a is provided. A motor 405 is provided near the sleeve 401, and a gear 406 fixed to a rotation shaft of the motor 405 meshes with a gear ring 401 a of the sleeve 401.

When the motor 405 is rotated, the rotational driving force is transmitted from the gear 406 to the gear ring 401a, and transmitted from the gear ring 401a to the gear ring 403a via the idler gear 404. Therefore, as in the case of the third embodiment, when toner is supplied by the first toner bottle 400, the second toner bottle 402 is also rotated with the rotation of the first toner bottle 400.
The toner in the toner bottle 402 is agitated.

In the toner supply device of the fourth embodiment, when the locking portions 113 and 143 described in the second embodiment are used for the first and second toner bottles 400 and 402, respectively, , 402 in the radial direction are shifted from each other so that each toner bottle 40
By fitting 0, 402 to each of the sleeves 401, 403, the operation timing of applying an impact to each of the toner bottles 400, 402 by the locking portions 113, 143 can be shifted from each other, thereby preventing overlapping of the operation timings. it can.

[0069]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of toner containers are provided, the number of replacements of the toner container is reduced even when the toner consumption is large, and the toner is stored. The labor required for exchanging containers can be reduced.
In addition, since there is a container rotating means for rotating all the toner storage containers at the time of toner replenishment, the toner replenishment is not performed at the time of toner replenishment. Aggregation of the toner in the toner container is prevented. Therefore, deterioration of the fluidity of the toner can be prevented, the toner can be maintained in a good state, and the toner in the toner container can be effectively supplied to the developing device.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, when the toner replenishment is temporarily suspended, the toner container in which the toner replenishment order is late is rotated by the container rotating means for a predetermined time. Aggregation of the toner in the storage container is prevented. Therefore, deterioration of the fluidity of the toner can be prevented, the toner can be maintained in a good state, and the toner in the toner container can be effectively supplied to the developing device.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, since the container rotating means prohibits the rotation of the toner container after toner supply is completed, the occurrence of noise or the like due to the rotation of the toner container after toner supply is completed. Thus, the electric power for rotating the toner container can be reduced.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, an impact is applied to the toner container each time the toner container is rotated by the impact means, so that the toner adhering to the inner wall of the toner container due to the impact is applied to the inner wall. Peeled off from
Therefore, the remaining amount of toner in the toner container can be reduced, and the toner in the toner container can be effectively supplied to the developing device.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the operation timings of the impact units are shifted from each other so that the operation timings of applying the slight impact to the toner storage containers by the impact units do not overlap with each other. It is possible to prevent the noise from being increased due to the overlap, and it is possible to reduce the noise due to the impact means.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a toner supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of a toner bottle and bottle rotating means.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toner replenishing operation in the toner replenishing device, with a toner bottle mounted on a sleeve.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a toner replenishing operation in the toner replenishing device, in a state where a cap of a toner bottle is pulled out by a collet chuck and toner flows into a toner replenishing passage.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a toner supply passage.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram relating to a control unit in the first embodiment.

FIGS. 7A and 7B are operation diagrams of the toner bottles for explaining a rotation operation of each toner bottle according to the first embodiment. FIG. 7A illustrates a state in which toner is supplied by the first toner bottle, and FIG. A state in which the supply of the toner to the developing device by the first toner bottle is temporarily interrupted, and a state in which the toner is supplied by the second toner bottle are shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a toner supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 9A and 9B are enlarged cross-sectional views of the locking portion, wherein FIG. 9A shows a state where the arm is lifted, and FIG. 9B shows a state where an impact is applied to the toner bottle.

FIG. 10 is a block diagram relating to control means in the second embodiment.

FIGS. 11A and 11B are operation diagrams of a toner bottle for explaining a rotation operation of each toner bottle in the second embodiment, and FIG.
Shows a state in which toner is being supplied by the first toner bottle, (b) shows a state in which supply of toner to the developing device by the first toner bottle is temporarily interrupted, and (c) shows a state in which toner is supplied to the developing device. 3 shows a state in which toner is supplied by the toner bottle.

FIG. 12 is an exploded perspective view of a toner supply device according to a third embodiment of the present invention, showing a toner bottle and bottle rotating means.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a toner replenishing device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, showing a discharge port side of a toner bottle.

FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of a conventional toner replenishing device showing a schematic configuration of the toner replenishing device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Toner supply device 2 Toner supply passage 3, 4 Toner bottle 10, 40 Bottle holding means 20, 50 Bottle rotation means 30, 60 Cap opening / closing means 70 Control means 71 Toner density sensor 113, 143 Locking part

Claims (5)

[Claims] A toner replenishing device having a plurality of toner containers, wherein a toner container for replenishing toner among the toner containers is rotated to replenish toner in the toner container to a developing device. And a container rotating means for rotating all of the toner storage containers during toner supply. 2. A toner replenishing device comprising a plurality of toner containers, wherein a toner container for replenishing toner among the toner containers is rotated to replenish toner in the toner container to a developing device. When the toner is supplied, the toner container for supplying the toner is defined as a first toner container, and a toner container other than the first toner container is defined as a second toner container.
A toner replenishing apparatus comprising: container rotation means for stopping rotation of the second toner storage container during toner replenishment and rotating the second toner storage container for a predetermined time other than during toner replenishment. 3. The toner supply device according to claim 1, wherein said container rotation means inhibits rotation of said toner container after toner supply. 4. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, further comprising impact means for applying a slight impact to said toner container in accordance with rotation of said toner container. 5. The operation timing of each of said impact means is shifted from each other so that the operation timing of applying a slight impact to each of said toner containers by said impact means does not overlap. Toner supply device.