JPH10207204A - Toner replenishing device for image forming machine - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner replenishing device for an image forming machine capable of surely rotary-driving a take up shaft for peeling and winding a peelable sealing member for closing a toner discharge opening formed in a toner cartridge. SOLUTION: The toner replenishing device 100 is provided with the toner cartridge 200 for storing the toner, and a toner cartridge receiving body to which the toner cartridge 200 is attachably/detachably loaded. In this case, on the take-up shaft for winding the peelable sealing member for closing the toner discharge opening formed in the toner cartridge 200, an engagement projecting part, or an engagement recessed part whose cross section is non circular is installed, and the engagement projecting part, or the engagement recessed part is engaged with the engagement recessed part, or the engagement projecting part which is formed on the driving shaft installed on the toner cartridge receiving body and whose cross section is non circular.

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 for replenishing toner to a developing device provided in an image forming machine such as an electrostatic copying machine or an electrostatic printing machine, and a toner cartridge used for the same.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A toner replenishing apparatus of this type generally comprises a toner cartridge containing toner and a toner cartridge receiver provided on a machine body and having a toner cartridge mounting portion for detachably mounting the toner cartridge. ing. The toner cartridge includes a container main body having a toner discharge opening and containing the toner, a seal member that removably closes the toner discharge opening, and a winding shaft that peels off and seals the seal member. On the other hand, the toner cartridge receiver is provided with a toner cartridge mounting portion which is disposed on the body and detachably mounts the toner cartridge. The toner cartridge is inserted into the toner cartridge mounting portion from a predetermined insertion direction, and a predetermined It is set to the position.

As described above, in a state where the toner cartridge is set in the toner cartridge mounting portion of the toner cartridge receiver, the take-up shaft is rotated and the seal member is peeled off and taken up, thereby obtaining the toner discharge opening. And the toner in the toner cartridge is dropped onto the hopper of the toner cartridge receiver. In order to rotationally drive the winding shaft in this way, a non-driving gear is mounted on the winding shaft, and the non-driving gear is configured to mesh with a driving gear provided on the toner cartridge receiver. I have.

[0004]

Since the non-drive gear and the drive gear are mounted on the toner cartridge and the toner cartridge receiver which are separate members separated from each other, the drive gear is driven between the two gears. When the force is transmitted, the toner cartridge may be displaced from the set position. As a result, the meshing state of both gears is released, and the seal member cannot be peeled off. In addition, if the diameter of the non-drive gear and the drive gear is reduced in order to make the entire device compact, the meshing of the teeth is reduced, and if the accuracy of assembling the two gears is not improved, tooth skipping occurs during rotational driving, and There is a problem that the sealing member cannot be peeled off.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and a main technical problem thereof is to provide a winding shaft that winds while peeling off a seal member that removably closes a toner discharge opening formed in a toner cartridge. Another object of the present invention is to provide a toner replenishing device for an image forming machine which can be reliably driven to rotate, and a toner cartridge used for the same.

[0006]

According to the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned main technical problems, a container body containing toner and having a toner discharge opening on the lower surface, and a detachable lower surface of the container body are provided. A toner cartridge having a seal member mounted on the main body and closing the toner discharge opening, a take-up shaft for winding up the seal member while peeling the seal member, and a toner cartridge mounted on the body and detachably mounted with the toner cartridge. And a toner cartridge receiver provided with a drive shaft that rotationally drives the take-up shaft, the toner cartridge is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion of the toner cartridge receiver in a toner supply device of an image forming machine including the toner cartridge receiver. In this state, the winding shaft and the drive shaft are configured to be located on the same axis so as to face each other, and the end of the winding shaft facing the drive shaft is A non-circular fitting projection or fitting recess is provided, and an end of the drive shaft facing the winding shaft is fitted with a fitting projection or fitting recess provided on the winding shaft. A non-circular fitting recess or fitting protrusion having a non-circular cross section is provided, and the toner cartridge receiver is provided with a drive shaft for operating the drive shaft in an axial direction between a detached position and a fitted position. Actuating means is provided, and when the drive shaft is positioned at the fitting position by the drive shaft operating means, a fitting concave portion or a fitting convex portion provided on the drive shaft is provided on the winding shaft. A toner supply device for an image forming machine, wherein the toner supply device is fitted in a fitting protrusion or a fitting recess.

Further, according to the present invention, a container body for storing toner and having a toner discharge opening on the lower surface, a seal member removably mounted on the lower surface of the container body and closing the toner discharge opening, A take-up shaft for taking up the seal member while peeling off the seal member, the toner cartridge being removably mounted to a toner cartridge mounting portion of a toner cartridge receiver disposed on the machine body, wherein the take-up shaft has A non-circular fitting protrusion or fitting concave portion having a non-circular cross-section provided on a drive shaft provided on the toner cartridge receiver. And a toner cartridge for use in a toner supply device of an image forming apparatus.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a container body containing toner and having a toner discharge opening on the lower surface, a seal member detachably mounted on the lower surface of the container body and closing the toner discharge opening, A take-up shaft for taking up the seal member while peeling off the seal member, the toner cartridge being removably mounted to a toner cartridge mounting portion of a toner cartridge receiver disposed on the machine body, wherein the take-up shaft has A cross-section provided on a drive shaft provided on the toner cartridge receiver and having a non-circular fitting protrusion or fitting recess fitted with a non-circular fitting recess or fitting protrusion. A toner cartridge for use in a toner replenishing device of an image forming machine, wherein a drive connection member is mounted is provided. Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of a toner replenishing apparatus for an image forming machine constructed according to the present invention and a toner cartridge used for the same will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an electrostatic copying machine as an image forming machine equipped with a toner replenishing device constructed according to the present invention. The illustrated electrostatic copying machine includes a cuboid body housing 2. On the upper surface of the body housing 2, a stationary transparent plate 4 on which an original to be copied is placed, and an openable / closable original pressing plate 5 for covering the stationary transparent plate 4 and the original placed thereon. It is arranged. As shown in FIG. 1, a photosensitive drum 6 is rotatably arranged at a substantially central portion in the body housing 2. The photosensitive drum 6 is driven to rotate in a direction indicated by an arrow 60 by driving means (not shown). Around the photoreceptor drum 6, a charging corona discharger 8, a developing device 10, a transfer corona discharger 12, a peeling corona discharger 14, and a cleaning unit 16 are sequentially arranged in a rotation direction indicated by an arrow 60. And a static elimination lamp 18. The illustrated electrostatic copying machine includes an irradiation lamp 20, a first mirror 22, a second mirror 24, which is disposed above the photosensitive drum 6.
An optical system including a third mirror 26, a lens 28, and a fourth mirror 30 is provided. This optical system irradiates an original placed on the stationary transparent plate 4 by an irradiation lamp 20,
The reflected light image is converted into a first mirror 22, a second mirror 24,
Third mirror 26, lens 28 and fourth mirror 30
The image is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 8 through The illustrated electrostatic copying machine includes a transfer paper supply device 32 for supplying transfer paper to a transfer area between the transfer corona discharger 12 and the photosensitive drum 6.
The transfer paper supply device 32 includes transfer paper cassettes 34a and 34b for storing transfer paper, and transfer paper delivery rollers 36a and 36.
b, a pair of separating rollers 38a and 38b, a guide path 40, pairs of conveying rollers 42 and 44, and a pair of registration rollers 46. The respective roller pairs of the transfer paper supply device 32 thus configured are driven to rotate by driving means (not shown). A transfer paper transport belt mechanism 48, a fixing roller pair 52 and a discharge roller pair 54 constituting the fixing device 50 are disposed on the transfer paper delivery side of the transfer area. Each of them is rotationally driven by a non-driving means. As shown in FIG. 2, a front cover 2a is mounted on the front surface of the body housing 2 on which the above-described members are arranged so as to be openable and closable with its lower edge as a fulcrum.

In the electrostatic copying machine constructed as described above, the charging corona discharger 8 causes the photosensitive drum on the photosensitive drum 6 to rotate while the photosensitive drum 6 is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 60. It is charged to a specific polarity substantially uniformly, and then irradiates the original placed on the stationary transparent plate 4 by the irradiating lamp 20, and its reflected light image is reflected by the first mirror 22, the second mirror 24, and the third mirror 24. Scanning exposure is performed on the photosensitive drum 6 via a mirror 26, a lens 28 and a fourth mirror 30,
An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 6. After a while
The electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 6 is developed into a toner image by the developing device 10. On the other hand, the transfer paper stored in the transfer paper cassette 34a or 34b of the transfer paper supply device 32 is sent out from the transfer paper delivery roller 36a or 36b to the guide path 40, and is stopped once by the registration roller pair 46. Is conveyed to the transfer area in synchronization with the toner image formed on the transfer belt. The transfer paper conveyed to the transfer area passes between the photosensitive drum 6 on which the toner image is formed and the corona discharger 12 for transfer, so that the toner image is transferred. Then, the transfer paper on which the toner image has been transferred is peeled off from the photosensitive drum 6 by the action of the corona discharger 14 for peeling, and is conveyed to the fixing device 50 by the transfer paper conveying belt mechanism 48, where it is heated and fixed. The sheet is discharged from a pair of discharge rollers 54 to a discharge tray 56. Further, the toner adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the photoreceptor drum 6 on which the transfer process has been completed as described above is removed by the cleaning unit 16, and further, the surface of the photoreceptor is irradiated with the discharging light by the discharging lamp 18. , Is neutralized.

The illustrated electrostatic copying machine includes a toner replenishing device 100 for replenishing the developing device 10 with toner. The toner replenishing device 100 is disposed above the front side of the developing device 10, and includes a toner cartridge 200 containing toner and a toner cartridge 200.
Cartridge receiver 3 for detachably mounting the toner cartridge
00. In addition, the toner cartridge receiver 300 is provided with a retractable guide tray 310 for guiding the attachment and detachment of the toner cartridge 200.

As shown in FIG. 2, the guide tray 310 operates between a guide position in a horizontal state in which the guide tray 310 is tilted toward the front side of the developing device 10 and a folding position in which the guide tray 310 rotates upward at a substantially right angle from the guide position. It is configured to be possible. The guide tray 310 will be described later in detail.

When the toner cartridge 200 is replaced, as shown in FIG. 2, the open / close cover 2a constituting a part of the front surface of the body housing 2 is tilted forward to open.
With the guide tray 310 positioned at the guide position, the toner cartridge 200 previously mounted on the toner cartridge receiver 300 is pulled out toward the user, and a new toner cartridge 200 is mounted on the toner cartridge receiver 300 through the guide tray 310. I do. Replace the new toner cartridge 200 with the toner cartridge receiver 300
, The guide tray 310 is pivoted upward from the illustrated guide position to a folded position at a substantially right angle, and then
The opening / closing cover 2a is rotated upward and closed until it is flush with the front surface of the body housing 2. Even when the guide tray 310 is kept in the horizontal position, which is the guide position, when the cover 2a is closed, the cover 2a contacts the guide tray 310 when the cover 2a is closed. The tray 310 can be rotated to the folded position.

Next, the toner cartridge 200 constituting the toner supply device 100 will be described with reference to FIGS. The toner cartridge 200 includes a container main body 201 that stores toner, and a flange 203 that forms a lower surface of the container main body 201 and has a toner discharge opening 202. On the lower surface of the flange 203, a sealing member 2 made of a resin film for closing the toner discharge opening 202 is provided.
10 is detachably mounted. This sealing member 21
0 is attached from one side of the flange 203 to the other side by heat welding or an adhesive as shown in FIG.
It is folded back and its tip is fixed to a winding shaft 220 described later.

As shown in FIG. 4, the winding shaft 220 is rotatably disposed on front and rear end walls 231 constituting a seal member accommodating portion 230 provided on one side of the container body 201.
The winding shaft 220 is formed of a synthetic resin such as polyacetal having a good sliding property with the bearing, and a socket portion 221 is integrally formed at one end thereof. The socket portion 221 has a fitting hole 221a having a semicircular cross section and an engaging claw 221b. A drive connecting member 240 for transmitting a rotational driving force is fitted into a fitting hole 221a formed in the socket portion 221 of the winding shaft 220 configured as described above. This drive connecting member 240
Is composed of a mounting portion 241 fitted in the fitting hole 221a and a fitting projection 242, and is integrally formed of an ABS resin or the like having excellent strength. The mounting portion 241 of the drive connecting member 240 has a semicircular cross section, and has an undercut groove 241a formed on the outer periphery thereof. The mounting portion 241 is fitted into the fitting hole 221a of the socket portion 221. In this state, the engaging claw 221b is engaged with the undercut groove 241a. The fitting projection 242 constituting the drive connection member 240 has a triangular cross section in the illustrated embodiment. The fitting projection 242 may have a non-circular cross section, such as a polygon having a cross section other than a triangle, or a spline or serration on the outer periphery. Also, the socket section 22
The fitting hole 221a formed in the mounting member 241 and the mounting portion 241 forming the drive connecting member 240 may have a non-circular cross section. Note that the drive connection member 240 having the fitting protrusion 242 is formed separately from the winding shaft 220 and is configured to be fitted and mounted on the socket portion 221 provided on the winding shaft 220. By setting the drive connection members having different cross-sectional shapes of the protrusions 242 for each type of toner stored in the toner cartridge, the toner cartridge set for each destination according to, for example, climatic conditions can be easily identified. .

The flange 203 forming the lower surface of the container body 201 constituting the toner cartridge 200 has
A shutter member 250 is slidably mounted. The shutter member 250 includes a first portion 251 as shown in FIG.
And a second portion 252, which are integrally formed of an appropriate synthetic resin. L-shaped projections 251 a, 25 opposite to each other are formed on opposite edges of the first portion 251.
1a is integrally formed. This pair of L-shaped projections 25
The corresponding edge of the flange 203 is fitted between the upper surface of the first portion 251 and the upper surface of the first portion 251.
It guides the shutter member 250 to slide with respect to the flange 203. The L-shaped projections 251a, 251
a engages with stoppers 203a provided at the pull-out end of the flange 203 when the shutter member 250 is in the open position shown in FIG.

The second portion 252 of the shutter member 250 is connected to the first portion 251 by a thin portion 253, and can be bent around the thin portion 253. Also, the second portion 252 has L-shaped projections 252a and 252 opposite to each other on opposite edges.
a is integrally formed. This pair of L-shaped projections 252
A corresponding edge of the flange 203 is fitted between the a and 252a and the upper surface of the second portion 252 to guide the shutter member 250 to slide with respect to the flange 203. Note that engagement holes 252 b and 25 are provided at the front end of the second portion 252 of the shutter member 250.
2b is formed.

Next, the toner cartridge receiver 300 will be described with reference to FIG. 3 and FIGS.
The toner cartridge receiver 300 includes a toner cartridge mounting section 320 and a hopper section 330 provided at the center of the toner cartridge mounting section 320. A guide tray 3 is provided on the front side of the toner cartridge receiver 300.
10 is mounted. The guide tray 310 is provided with a rotation shaft 311 at one end thereof, and is rotatably mounted on the front end of the toner cartridge mounting portion 320 by the rotation shaft 311. And, this guide tray 310 is the same as FIG.
2 is operable between a guide position in a horizontal state shown in FIG. 1 and a folded position which rotates upward at a substantially right angle from the guide position. The guide tray 310 is configured to abut a stopper 325 provided on the toner cartridge mounting portion 320 in a state where the guide tray 310 is positioned at a guide position which is a horizontal state shown in FIG. Information tray 31
Guide grooves 312 and 312 for guiding the shutter member 250 mounted on the flange 203 forming the lower surface of the container body 201 of the toner cartridge 200 are provided on both sides of the toner cartridge 200. The second end 25 of the shutter member 250 is provided at the front end of the guide tray 310.
2 are provided with engaging members 313, 313 that engage with the engaging holes 252b, 252b provided in the second engaging hole 252b. The locking members 313, 313 are urged to protrude above the upper surface of the shutter member 250 by the spring force of a spring (not shown).

The container body 201 of the toner cartridge 200 is provided on both sides of the toner cartridge
Guide groove 32 for guiding flange 203 forming the lower surface of
1, 321 are provided. Further, on the left side when viewed from the back side and the near side of the toner cartridge mounting section 320,
Side walls 322 and 323 are provided upright. Sidewall 322
A positioning concave portion 322a for fitting the other end of the winding shaft 220 mounted on the container main body 201 constituting the toner cartridge 200 is provided at the right end when viewed from the front side. Also, on the side walls 322 and 323,
Rotary drive means 3 for rotationally driving the winding shaft 220
40 are provided. As shown in FIG. 7, the rotation driving means 340 includes an electric motor 341 as a driving source, a driving screw gear 343 mounted on a rotation driving shaft 342 of the electric motor 341, and an orthogonal to the driving screw gear 343. A driven screw gear 344 meshing with the driven screw gear 344, an intermediate gear 345 formed of a spur gear integrally formed with the driven screw gear 344,
A spur gear 346 that meshes with the intermediate gear 345 and a drive shaft 348 provided with a flange 347 provided on a side surface of the spur gear 346. This drive shaft 348
8, a pin insertion hole 348a is formed as shown in FIG. 8, and a drive connecting member 240 attached to the winding shaft 220 is provided at an end facing the winding shaft 220.
A fitting concave portion 349 for fitting the fitting convex portion 242 is formed. In the illustrated embodiment, the fitting recess 349 has a triangular cross section corresponding to the cross-sectional shape of the fitting projection 242. The drive shaft 3 configured as described above
48 is a support pin 35 attached to the side wall 323.
0, and is supported movably in the axial direction between a detached position shown in FIG. 8 and a fitting position shown in FIG. In addition,
The flange 3 provided at the left end in the drawing of the drive shaft 348
A coil spring 351 is provided between the side 47 and the side wall 323, and the drive shaft 348 is always urged to move rightward in the drawing.

The illustrated toner cartridge receiver 300 includes:
A drive shaft operating means 360 for moving the drive shaft 348 to the left in FIGS. 8 and 9 against the spring force of the coil spring 351 is provided. The drive shaft operating means 360 is shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. Actuating member 3
61 has a notch 361a at one end and is formed in a forked shape. The other end of the operating member 361 is provided with a vertically elongated slot 361b. Notch 361 at one end of operating member 361 thus configured
A cam plate 362 is attached to the end of the “a” by screws 363 and 363. This cam plate 362 also has a notch 362a at one end and is formed in a forked shape. The bifurcated portion is provided with inclined surfaces 362b, 362b, and the inclined surfaces 362b, 362b
It is configured to engage with a flange 347 provided at 48. The operating member 361 thus configured is
The guide support member 324 (see FIG. 3) provided on the toner cartridge mounting portion 320 causes an arrow X in FIG.
And movably supported in the directions indicated by Y. The guide support member 324 has an arc-shaped guide hole 324a for guiding an operation pin described later.

Drive shaft operating means 3 in the illustrated embodiment
Reference numeral 60 includes an operation mechanism 364 that reciprocates the operation member 361 in directions indicated by arrows X and Y in FIG. The operation mechanism 364 includes an operation gear 365 integrally formed with the rotation shaft 311 of the guide tray 310, a driven gear 367 meshing with the operation gear 365, an operation lever 368 provided integrally with the driven gear 367, The operating lever 368 is constituted by an operating pin 369 provided integrally with the operating lever 368. The operating pin 369 is provided with an elongated hole 361 b provided at the other end of the operating member 361 and the guide support member 324.
Is fitted in the guide hole 324a. The state shown in FIG. 10 is a state where the guide tray 310 is positioned at the guide position where the guide tray 310 is in the horizontal state, and the operating pin 369 is in the elongated hole 3.
61b is located at the lower end. In this state, the operating member 361 is operated in the direction indicated by the arrow X in FIGS. 8 and 10, and the inclined surfaces 362 b, 3
By the engagement of the flange 62b and the flange 62b, the drive shaft 348 is positioned at the detached position moved to the left in the drawing against the spring force of the coil spring 351 as shown in FIG. On the other hand, when the guide tray 310 is rotated upward from the state shown in FIGS. 8 and 10 to a folded position substantially at right angles indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 10, an operation gear 365 provided on a rotation shaft 311 of the guide tray 310 is provided. Rotates in the direction indicated by the two-dot chain line arrow in FIG. 10, and the driven gear 367 meshing with the operating gear 365 is turned in the direction indicated by the two-dot chain arrow in FIG. For this reason, the operating lever 36 provided integrally with the driven gear 367
8 rotates, the operating pin 369 provided integrally with the operating lever 368 is also rotated along the guide hole 324a formed in the guide support member 324. As a result, the operating member 361 having the elongated hole 361b fitted with the operating pin 369 is operated in the direction indicated by the arrow Y in FIGS. 9 and 10 (indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 10),
The inclined surfaces 362b, 362b of the cam plate 362 and the flange 3
The engagement with 47 is released. Cam plate 362 and flange 347
Is disengaged, the drive shaft 348 is moved rightward in the figure by the spring force of the coil spring 351 as shown in FIG. It is positioned at a fitting position where it is fitted with the fitting protrusion 242 of the winding shaft 220 which is mounted and positioned at a predetermined position.

The illustrated toner cartridge receiver 300 is provided with a toner conveying means 370 for conveying the toner supplied to the hopper 330 of the toner cartridge receiver 300 to the developing device 10. The toner conveying means 370 may be of a well-known screw conveyor type, and is operated by an electric motor (not shown).

The toner supply device 1 in the illustrated embodiment
The operation of mounting the toner cartridge 200 on the toner cartridge receiver 300 will be described below. When attaching the toner cartridge 200 to the toner cartridge receiver 300,
As shown in FIG. 2, the open / close cover 2a constituting a part of the front surface of the body housing 2 is tilted forward and opened, and the guide tray 310 is positioned at the horizontal guide position as shown in FIG. When the guide tray 310 is positioned at the guide position, the shutter member 2 of the new toner cartridge 200 is
50 are guide grooves 3 provided on both sides of the guide tray 310.
12 and 312 from the near side, and slide in together with the container body 201 of the toner cartridge 200 and push it in. When the shutter member 250 is positioned on the guide tray 310, the engagement holes 252 formed in the second portion 252 of the shutter member 250
b and 252b are engaged with the locking members 313 and 313 provided on the guide tray 310, and the movement of the shutter member 250 is regulated. With the movement of the shutter member 250 restricted, the container main body 201 of the toner cartridge 200 is
Is pushed further inward, the flanges 203 are brought into contact with the guide grooves 32 formed on both sides of the toner cartridge mounting portion 320.
The container body 201 moves while being inserted into and guided by the first and the second 321, and is positioned at a predetermined position of the toner cartridge mounting portion 320. At this time, the other end of the winding shaft 220 mounted on the container body 201 is connected to the toner cartridge mounting portion 3.
The container main body 201 is positioned at a predetermined position by being fitted into a positioning recess 322a provided on the side wall 322 of the container 20.

As described above, the toner cartridge 2
00 container body 201 is the toner cartridge mounting portion 32
0, the container body 20
The take-up shaft 220 mounted on 1 is positioned on the same axis as the drive shaft 348 as shown in FIG. In this state, since the guide tray 310 is positioned at the guide position which is a horizontal state, the operating member 361 is operated as described above.
Has been actuated in the direction indicated by arrow X in FIG. 8, and has a drive shaft 3 provided with a flange 347 that engages with the cam plate 362.
As shown in FIG. 8, reference numeral 48 denotes a detached position which is moved to the left in the drawing against the spring force of the coil spring 351. Therefore, the fitting concave portion 349 provided at the tip end is not fitted to the fitting convex portion 242 of the winding shaft 220 mounted on the toner cartridge 200.

When the toner cartridge 200 is mounted at a predetermined position of the toner cartridge mounting section 320, the guide tray 310 is rotated upward about a rotation shaft 311. At this time, the second portion 252 of the shutter member 250 located on the guide tray 310 is also bent upward about the thin portion 253. And guide tray 3
10 and 2nd part 2 which comprises shutter member 250
52 is rotated from a horizontal state to a folded position at a substantially right angle.

As the guide tray 310 rotates from the guide position to the folded position, the operating gear 365 provided on the rotating shaft 311 of the guide tray 310, the driven gear 367 meshing with the operating gear 365, the driven gear 36
7, the operating pin 369 provided integrally with the operating lever 368 is rotated along a guide hole 324a formed in the guide support member 324. 369 and slot 36
9 and FIG. 10 show the operating member 361 into which the first member 1b is fitted.
In the direction indicated by arrow Y. As a result, the engagement between the flanges 347 and the inclined surfaces 362b, 362b of the cam plate 362 mounted on the operation member 361 is released,
As shown in FIG. 9, the drive shaft 348 is positioned at the fitting position where it is moved rightward in the figure by the spring force of the coil spring 351. Therefore, the fitting concave portion 349 provided at the distal end of the drive shaft 348 is fitted to the fitting convex portion 242 of the winding shaft 220 mounted on the toner cartridge 200 and positioned at a predetermined position. The shaft 220 is drive-coupled. As described above, when the guide tray 310, which is the mounting operation of the toner cartridge 200, is operated from the guide position to the folded position, the drive shaft 348 and the take-up shaft 2 are moved.
20 can be reliably transmitted and connected. When the guide tray 310 rotates from the guide position to the folding position, the opening / closing cover 2a constituting a part of the front surface of the body housing 2 is rotated upward to close. As described above, when the electric motor 341 constituting the rotation driving means 340 is driven in a state where the drive shaft 348 and the winding shaft 220 are in a transmission-connected state, the driving force is increased by the rotation drive shaft 342 and the drive screw gear 34.
3, driven screw gear 344, intermediate gear 345, spur gear 34
6 and the drive shaft 348 is rotated via the spur gear 346, so that the take-up shaft 22
0 is rotated. By rotating the winding shaft 220, the seal member 210 is peeled and wound,
The toner discharge opening 202 is opened. Therefore, the toner stored in the container body 201 of the toner cartridge 200 falls to the hopper 330 provided on the toner cartridge receiver 300.

Next, the operation of taking out the toner cartridge 200 from the toner cartridge receiver 300 when the toner contained in the container body 201 of the toner cartridge 200 is consumed will be described. Toner cartridge 2
Also when taking out the toner cartridge 00 from the toner cartridge receiver 300, as shown in FIG. 2, the open / close cover 2a constituting a part of the front surface of the machine housing 2 is folded down toward the front side to be opened, and the guide tray 310 is folded from the folded position in FIG. To the guide position shown in FIG. Thereby, the rotating shaft 31 of the guide tray 310 is
1, an operating gear 365 provided, a driven gear 367 meshing with the operating gear 365, an operating lever 368 provided integrally with the driven gear 367, and an operating pin 369 provided integrally with the operating lever 368 to serve as a guide support member. 324
The operating member 361 in which the operating pin 369 and the elongated hole 361b are fitted is operated in the direction shown by the arrow X in FIGS. 8 and 10. As a result, the inclined surfaces 362b, 362b of the cam plate 362 and the flange 347 are engaged, so that the drive shaft 348 is moved to the left in the figure against the spring force of the coil spring 351 as shown in FIG. Position. Therefore, the drive shaft 34
8 and the fitting protrusion 24 of the winding shaft 220 mounted on the toner cartridge 200.
2, and the transmission connection between the drive shaft 348 and the winding shaft 220 is released. As described above, when the guide tray 310 is rotated from the folded position to the guide position, the second portion 25 constituting the shutter member 250 is rotated.
2 also rotates about the thin portion 253 and returns to the horizontal state shown in FIG.

Next, when the container main body 201 of the toner cartridge 200 mounted at a predetermined position of the toner cartridge mounting section 320 is pulled toward the user, the flange 203 constituting the lower surface of the container main body 201 is While being guided by the guide grooves 321 formed on both sides, it moves to the front side and is positioned on the shutter member 250 located on the guide tray 310. When the container body 201 of the toner cartridge 200 is further pulled toward the user, the shutter member 250 is moved together with the container body 201 of the toner cartridge 200 to the guide tray 310.
Can be removed from.

Although the present invention has been described based on the illustrated embodiment, the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the illustrated embodiment, a fitting protrusion 242 is provided on the winding shaft 220 mounted on the toner cartridge 200, and a fitting recess 349 is provided on the drive shaft 348 provided on the toner cartridge receiver 300. However, the winding shaft 220 may be provided with a fitting concave portion, and the drive shaft 348 may be provided with a fitting convex portion.

[0031]

The toner supply device for an image forming apparatus according to the present invention and the toner cartridge used in the toner supply device are constructed as described above.

That is, according to the present invention, the take-up shaft for taking up the seal member for releasably closing the toner discharge opening formed in the toner cartridge has a fitting projection or a fitting recess having a non-circular cross section. Is provided so that the fitting protrusion or the fitting recess is fitted to the non-circular fitting recess or the fitting protrusion provided on the drive shaft provided on the toner cartridge receiver. With this configuration, unlike the conventional gear transmission mechanism, the tooth skipping phenomenon does not occur during rotational driving, and the winding shaft can be reliably driven to rotate.

According to the present invention, the toner cartridge receiver has a guide position for guiding the toner cartridge to the toner cartridge mounting portion of the toner cartridge receiver, and a folding position for rotating the guide cartridge substantially at right angles from the guide position. A guide tray operable between the drive shaft and the take-up shaft is mounted, and the drive shaft is operated to the disengagement position and the fitting position in conjunction with the guide tray. The connection and the release of the transmission connection can be achieved by the attachment / detachment operation of the toner cartridge.

Further, according to the present invention, the winding shaft includes:
A drive connection provided with a non-circular fitting protrusion or fitting concave portion having a non-circular cross section to be fitted with a non-circular fitting recess or fitting convex portion provided on a drive shaft provided on the toner cartridge receiver. Since the members are mounted, the drive connection members having different cross-sectional shapes of the fitting protrusions or the fitting recesses are set for each type of toner stored in the toner cartridge, so that the driving connection members can be destined according to, for example, climatic conditions. The toner cartridge set for each location can be easily identified.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of an image forming apparatus equipped with a toner supply device configured according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the image forming apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing a toner cartridge and a toner cartridge receiver constituting a toner supply device mounted on the image forming apparatus of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side view showing a part of the toner cartridge shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view showing a winding shaft mounted on the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 3 and a drive connecting member mounted on the winding shaft;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a state where a shutter member of the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 3 is opened.

FIG. 7 is a front view of a rotation driving unit for rotationally driving a winding shaft mounted on the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a relationship between a drive shaft and a take-up shaft which constitute the rotary drive means shown in FIG. 7, and showing a state where the drive shaft is positioned at a detached position.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a relationship between a drive shaft and a take-up shaft that constitute the rotary drive unit illustrated in FIG. 7, and illustrating a state where the drive shaft is positioned at a fitting position.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a drive shaft operating means for operating a drive shaft constituting the rotary drive means shown in FIG. 7 between a detached position and a fitted position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2: body housing 2a: front cover 4: stationary transparent plate 5: document holding plate 6: photosensitive drum 8: charging corona discharger 10: developing device 12: transfer corona discharger 14: peeling corona discharger 16: Cleaning unit 18: Static elimination lamp 20: Irradiation lamp 22: First mirror 24: Second mirror 26: Third mirror 28: Lens 30: Fourth mirror 32: Transfer paper supply device 34a, 34b: Transfer paper cassette 36a, 36b: Transfer paper sending roller 38a, 38b: Separating roller pair 40: Guide path 42, 44: Transport roller pair 46: Registration roller pair 48: Transfer paper transport belt mechanism 50: Fixing device 52: Fixing roller pair 54: Discharge Roller pair 100: toner supply device 200: toner cartridge 201: container body of toner cartridge 202: toner -Discharge opening 203: Flange 210: Seal member 220: Winding shaft 221: Socket part 230: Seal member accommodating part 240: Drive connecting member 241: Mounting part 242: Fitting convex part 250: Shutter member 300: Toner cartridge receiver 310: guide tray 311: guide tray rotation axis 312: guide groove 320: toner cartridge mounting section 321: guide groove 324: guide support member 330: hopper section 340: rotation drive means 341: electric motor 342: rotation drive shaft 343: Drive screw gear 344: driven screw gear 345: intermediate gear 346: spur gear 347: flange 348: drive shaft 349: fitting recess 350: support pin 351: coil spring 360: drive shaft operating means 361: operating member 362: cam plate 364: Operating mechanism 365: Operating gear 367: Follower Car 368: operation lever 369: operating pin 370: conveying means

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A container body for storing toner and having a toner discharge opening on a lower surface, a seal member detachably mounted on the lower surface of the container body for closing the toner discharge opening, and a seal member for peeling off the seal member. A toner cartridge having a take-up shaft for winding, a toner cartridge mounting portion disposed on the machine body for detachably mounting the toner cartridge, and a toner cartridge receiver having a drive shaft for rotating and driving the take-up shaft; Wherein the take-up shaft and the drive shaft are opposed to each other on the same axis in a state where the toner cartridge is mounted on the toner cartridge mounting portion of the toner cartridge receiver. The winding shaft is provided with a fitting projection or a fitting recess having a non-circular cross section at an end of the winding shaft facing the drive shaft. The opposite end is provided with a fitting concave portion or a fitting convex portion having a non-circular cross section for fitting with the fitting convex portion or the fitting concave portion provided on the winding shaft. Is provided with drive shaft operating means for operating the drive shaft in the axial direction between the disengaged position and the fitted position, and when the drive shaft is positioned at the fitted position by the drive shaft operating means. A fitting concave portion or a convex portion provided on the drive shaft is fitted into a fitting convex portion or the concave portion provided on the winding shaft. . 2. The toner cartridge receiver operates between a guide position for guiding the toner cartridge to a toner cartridge mounting portion of the toner cartridge receiver and a folding position that rotates substantially at right angles from the guide position. 2. The toner supply device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a guide tray mounted thereon, wherein said drive shaft operating means is configured to be operated in conjunction with said guide tray. 3. A container body for storing toner and having a toner discharge opening on a lower surface, a seal member detachably mounted on the lower surface of the container body for closing the toner discharge opening, and a seal member for peeling off the seal member. A toner cartridge having a take-up shaft for winding the toner cartridge, the toner cartridge being detachably mounted on a toner cartridge mounting portion of a toner cartridge receiver provided in the machine body, wherein the take-up shaft has the toner cartridge receiver. A non-circular fitting convex portion or fitting concave portion having a non-circular cross-section to be fitted with a non-circular fitting concave portion or fitting convex portion provided on the drive shaft provided in the drive shaft. A toner cartridge used in a toner supply device of an image forming machine. 4. A container body for storing toner and having a toner discharge opening on a lower surface, a seal member detachably mounted on the lower surface of the container body for closing the toner discharge opening, and a seal member for peeling off the seal member. A toner cartridge having a take-up shaft for winding the toner cartridge, the toner cartridge being detachably mounted on a toner cartridge mounting portion of a toner cartridge receiver provided in the machine body, wherein the take-up shaft has the toner cartridge receiver. A drive coupling member having a non-circular fitting convex portion or fitting concave portion with a non-circular cross-sectional shape provided on the drive shaft provided on the drive shaft is fitted. A toner cartridge used in a toner supply device of an image forming machine. 5. An end portion of the winding shaft is provided with a socket portion having a fitting hole having a non-circular cross section, and the driving connecting member has a non-cross section fitting with the fitting hole. The toner cartridge used in the toner supply device of the image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a circular mounting portion.