JPH10301379A - Toner replenishment device for image forming device and toner cartridge used therefor - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent toner from causing what is called bridge phenomena on the bottom of a container main body by placing a vibration plate on the inside surface of the container main body so that vibration plate operating means acts on the other end part of the vibration plate, and the vibration plate is vibrated. SOLUTION: When a spiral roller 341 is operated and the toner in a hopper section is transported to a developing device, and vibration plate operation lever 362 and the toner cartridge vibration lever 367 respectively mounted on an operation shaft 361 is turned to a specific angular position, since engagement between the drive lever 364 and the driven lever 363 is released, and the operation shaft 361 is turned by the spring force of the turn-back spring 365, the vibration plate operating lever 362 mounted on the operation shaft 361 knocks the operated section on the vibration plate, and the toner cartridge vibration lever 367 mounted on the operation shaft 361 knocks the bottom of the container main body. In such a manner, the vibration plate is vibrated, this vibration is transmitted to the toner contained in the container main body, the toner of a lump shape is broken, and fluidity is imparted.

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 body having a toner discharge opening and containing the toner, and a seal member that removably closes the toner discharge opening. on the other hand,
The toner cartridge receiver has a toner cartridge mounting portion that 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,
It is set at a predetermined 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 seal member is wound up while being peeled off by winding up means, thereby opening the toner discharge opening. The toner in the toner cartridge is dropped onto a hopper of a toner cartridge receiver.

[0004]

In the above-described toner replenishing device, the lower part of the container body constituting the toner cartridge, in which the toner discharge opening is provided, is regulated by the size of the toner cartridge receiver. There is a structural limitation in forming a large cross-sectional area. Therefore, in order to obtain a toner cartridge having a large toner storage amount, the cross-sectional area of the upper portion of the container body is usually formed large, and the cross-sectional area is gradually reduced toward the lower portion provided with the toner discharge opening. I have. However, since the container body constituting the toner cartridge has a shape narrowed toward the lower portion provided with the toner discharge opening, the toner contained in the container body causes a so-called bridge phenomenon at the lower portion of the container body, There is a tendency that the lower surface of the dome shape is formed to close and not flow smoothly.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and a main technical problem thereof is that an image capable of preventing toner contained in a container main body from causing a so-called bridge phenomenon at a lower portion of the container main body. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner supply device for a forming machine 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 supply device for an image forming machine, comprising: a toner cartridge having a seal member mounted on a body and sealing the toner discharge opening; and a toner cartridge receiver disposed on the machine body and removably mounting the toner cartridge. The toner cartridge is provided with a vibrating plate having one end attached to the inner surface of the container main body and the other end projecting from the toner discharge opening with the seal member peeled off. Wherein the body is provided with diaphragm operating means acting on the other end of the diaphragm to vibrate the diaphragm. It is provided.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided a container body containing toner and having a toner discharge opening on the lower surface, and a seal member detachably mounted on the lower surface of the container body and closing the toner discharge opening. And a toner cartridge removably mounted on a toner cartridge receiver disposed on the machine body, the toner cartridge having one end mounted on the inner surface of the container body and the other end peeling off the seal member. A vibrating plate protruding from a discharge opening, the other end of which is vibrated by vibrating plate operating means provided on the toner cartridge receiver, wherein the toner is used for a toner replenishing device of an image forming machine. A cartridge is provided. Other features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

[0008]

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 rotates the photosensitive drum on the photosensitive drum 6 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 near side of the developing device 10 and a folded position which 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 replacing the toner cartridge 200, as shown in FIG. 2, the open / close cover 2a constituting a part of the front surface of the body housing 2 is opened by tilting it forward.
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 body 2 for storing a toner formed of an appropriate synthetic resin.
And a flange 203 forming the lower surface of the container body 201 and having a toner discharge opening 202. A sealing member 210 made of a resin film for closing the toner discharge opening 202 is detachably mounted on the lower surface of the flange 203. As shown in FIG. 4, the seal member 210 is bonded from one side of the flange 203 to the other side by heat welding or an adhesive or the like, and is then folded back so that its tip is fixed to a winding shaft 220 described later. You. Further, a vibration plate 205 is provided in the container body 201. The diaphragm 205 is formed of, for example, a polyethylene terephthalate (PETP) resin sheet having elasticity and flexibility. As shown in FIG. 5, the diaphragm 205 includes a diaphragm main body 206, a mounting part 207 formed at one end of the diaphragm main body 206, and an affected part 208 formed at the other end of the diaphragm main body 206. have. Diaphragm body 2
06 is provided with a plurality of vibration fins 206a formed to protrude laterally. The mounting portion 207 has two square mounting holes 207a, 207a.
And one provided at a position near one of the two mounting holes.
A plurality of positioning holes 207b are formed. The lid 204 of the container body 201 on which the vibration plate 205 configured as described above is mounted has two mounting holes 20 at the center of the lower surface thereof.
7a, 207a and two positioning protrusions 204a, 2
04a and one circular positioning projection 204b are integrally formed. These two mounting projections 204a, 2
04a has a diameter of the two mounting holes 207a, 207a.
And the diameter of the positioning hole 204b is slightly larger than the diameter of the positioning hole 205b. In order to mount the vibration plate 205 on the lid 204 of the container body 201, the positioning hole 207b provided in the mounting portion 207 is inserted into the positioning protrusion 204b
And two mounting holes 207a, 207
a is slightly elastically deformed by being pushed into the two mounting projections 204a, 204a, and is locked by the elastic force. When the diaphragm 205 is mounted, the positioning hole 207b is provided at a position near one of the two mounting holes 207a, 207a, so that the diaphragm 205 is not mounted upside down.

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.
An input gear 221 is provided at one end of the winding shaft 220.

A 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 has a housing 301. The housing 301 includes a bottom wall 302 and a front wall 3.
03 and a rear wall 304, and a left side wall 305 and a right side wall 306 are formed in a box shape. This housing 301
Inside, a toner cartridge mounting section 320 and a hopper section 330 provided at the center of the toner cartridge mounting section 320 are provided. Toner cartridge receiver 3
A guide tray 310 is mounted on the front side of 00. 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. The guide tray 310 is configured to be operable between a guide position in a horizontal state shown in FIG. 3 and a folding position that rotates upward at a substantially right angle from the guide position. In addition,
The guide tray 310 is positioned in the horizontal guide position shown in FIG.
It is configured to abut against a stopper 325 provided in 20. Further, on both sides of the guide tray 310, guide grooves 312 and 312 for guiding the shutter member 250 mounted on the flange 203 forming the lower surface of the container main body 201 of the toner cartridge 200 are provided. In addition, locking members 313, 3 engaging with engagement holes 252 b provided in the second portion 252 of the shutter member 250 are provided on the front end of the guide tray 310.
13 are provided. The locking members 313, 313
The shutter member 25 is driven by the spring force of a spring (not shown).
It is urged to protrude above the upper surface of the zero.

On both sides of the toner cartridge mounting portion 320, the container body 201 of the toner cartridge 200 is provided.
Guide groove 32 for guiding flange 203 forming the lower surface of
1, 321 are provided. The other end of the take-up shaft 220 mounted on the container body 201 of the toner cartridge 200 is fitted to the right end of the rear wall 304 of the housing 301 on the inner side of the toner cartridge mounting portion 320. A positioning recess 304a is provided. A transmission gear 235 that meshes with and engages with an input gear 221 provided on the winding shaft 220 is rotatably disposed at the far left end of the housing 301 (see FIG. 7). The transmission gear 235 is operatively connected to driving means (not shown).

In the illustrated toner cartridge receiver 300, a toner conveying means 340 for conveying the toner supplied to the hopper 330 of the toner cartridge receiver 300 to the developing device 10 is provided on the rear wall 3 of the housing 301.
04 is provided. This toner conveying means 3
The spiral roller 341 includes a spiral roller 341 horizontally protruding from a lower portion of the hopper section 330 and a guide cylinder 342 fitted to the projection of the spiral roller 341. A toner outlet 3 is provided below the distal end of the guide cylinder 342.
42a are formed. Note that the toner conveying means 340
An input gear 343 that is operatively connected to a driving unit described below is mounted on the rotating shaft 341a of the spiral roller 341 that constitutes the above.

In the housing 301, driving means 350 for rotating and driving the spiral roller 341 is provided.
Are arranged. The driving means 350 includes an electric motor 351, a driving gear 352 mounted on a rotating shaft of the electric motor 351, a first intermediate gear 353 meshing with the driving gear 352, the first intermediate gear 353 and the The second meshing with the input gear 343 of the spiral roller 341
And an intermediate gear 354.

The illustrated toner cartridge receiver 300 includes:
The toner cartridge 20 provided in the hopper 330
Diaphragm 20 mounted in container body 201 constituting
5 is provided with a diaphragm operating means 360 for vibrating 5. The diaphragm operating means 360 is provided with the spiral roller 3
Operating shaft 361 rotatably disposed diagonally above 41
And the diaphragm 20 attached to the center of the operating shaft 361.
5 is provided with a diaphragm operating lever 362 that acts on the actuated portion 208 to cause the diaphragm 205 to vibrate. Operating shaft 3
A driven lever 363 is attached to one end of 61.
The driven lever 363 is intermittently engaged with a drive lever 364 mounted on the rotation shaft 341a of the spiral roller 341. That is, while the drive lever 364 and the driven lever 363 are engaged, the operating shaft 361 is rotated by a predetermined angle in the direction indicated by the arrow 370. Therefore, the rotation shaft 341a and the drive lever 36
4 and the driven lever 363 constitute a drive mechanism for rotating the operation shaft 361 in a predetermined direction at a predetermined angle. On the other hand, a return spring 365 made of a leaf spring is fitted to the other end of the operation shaft 361. This return spring 365 is
One end of the locking lever 3 attached to the operating shaft 361
The other end is engaged with the hopper 330, and functions as an urging member for urging the operating shaft 361 to rotate in the direction indicated by the arrow 371. The illustrated embodiment includes toner cartridge vibration levers 367 and 367 mounted on the operation shaft 361 on both sides of the vibration plate operation lever 362. The toner cartridge vibration levers 367 and 367 are
00 and the flange 2 formed on the container body 201
03 is mounted at a position corresponding to the lower surface. Also,
A stop lever 368 is provided at the other end of the operation shaft 361.
Is installed. The operation lever 361 is moved by the arrow 3 by the spring force of the return spring 365.
When rotated by a predetermined angle in the direction indicated by 71, it comes into contact with a stopper 369 provided on the hopper 330 to restrict the rotation of the operating shaft 361 due to the spring force of the return spring 365. The stop lever 368 and the stopper 369
Is configured so as not to come into contact when the toner cartridge 200 is mounted on the toner cartridge receiver 300. That is, the toner cartridge receiver 3
When the toner cartridge 200 is mounted on the operating shaft 36 by the spring force of the return spring 365.
When 1 is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 371, the toner cartridge vibration levers 367 and 367 come into contact with the lower surface of the flange 203 formed on the container body 201, and
The rotation of the operating shaft 361 due to the spring force of the return spring 365 is restricted.

The toner replenishing 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 attached to the container body 201 is connected to the rear wall 30 of the housing 301.
4, the container main body 201 is positioned at a predetermined position.

As described above, the toner cartridge 2
00 container body 201 is the toner cartridge mounting portion 32
0, the container body 20
The input gear 221 mounted on one end of the take-up shaft 220 mounted on the first gear meshes with a transmission gear 235 disposed on the far left end of the housing 301. 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 the rotation shaft 311. At this time, the second portion 25 constituting the shutter member 250 located on the guide tray 310
2 is also bent upward about the thin portion 253.
Then, the guide tray 310 and the second portion 252 constituting the shutter member 250 are rotated from the horizontal state to a substantially right-angled folded position.

When the guide tray 310 is turned from the guide position to the folded position, the open / close cover 2a constituting a part of the front surface of the body housing 2 is turned upward and closed. As described above, in a state where the transmission gear 235 and the input gear 221 mounted on one end of the winding shaft 220 are engaged with each other, the driving unit (not shown) is driven to drive the transmission gear 235.
And the winding shaft 220 is rotated via the input gear 221. When the winding shaft 220 rotates, the seal member 210 is peeled off and wound, and 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. When the seal member 210 is peeled off and the toner discharge opening 202 is opened, the affected part 208 of the diaphragm 205 is positioned downward through the toner discharge opening 202.

Next, the operation of supplying the toner dropped from the container body 201 of the toner cartridge 200 to the hopper 330 to the developing device 10 will be described.
During the operation of the image forming apparatus, a toner concentration detector (not shown) provided in the developing device 10 detects the toner concentration of the developer contained in the developing device 10, and outputs the detection signal to a control device (not shown). Output to When the toner concentration falls below a predetermined value based on a detection signal from the toner concentration detector, the control device controls the electric motor 35 of the driving unit 350.
1 is rotationally driven. When the electric motor 351 is driven, the driving force is transmitted to the rotating shaft 341 of the spiral roller 341 via the driving gear 352, the first intermediate gear 353, the second intermediate gear 354, and the input gear 343, and the spiral roller 341 is driven. It is driven to rotate in the direction indicated by arrow 372. As the spiral roller 341 rotates, the toner dropped by the hopper 330 is conveyed to the developing device 10 by the spiral roller 341.

As described above, when the toner in the hopper 330 is conveyed to the developing device 10, the toner contained in the container body 201 of the toner cartridge 200 sequentially falls into the hopper 330 through the toner discharge opening 202. I'm sullen. When the spiral roller 341 operates and the toner in the hopper 330 is conveyed to the developing device 10, the driving lever 364 mounted on the rotating shaft 341 a of the spiral roller 341 engages with the driven lever 363, and The operating shaft 361 on which the 363 is mounted is the return spring 3
It is turned in the direction shown by arrow 370 against the spring force of 65. Then, the vibration plate operation lever 362 and the toner cartridge vibration lever 3 attached to the operation shaft 361
When the levers 67 and 367 rotate to a predetermined angular position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG.
Is rotated in the direction indicated by the arrow 371 by the spring force of the diaphragm 361, so that the diaphragm operating lever 362 mounted on the operating shaft 361
Strikes the affected part 208 of the vibration plate 205 and the toner cartridge vibration lever 3 attached to the operation shaft 361.
67 and 367 hit the lower surface of the flange 203 formed on the container main body 201 constituting the toner cartridge 200. As a result, the vibration plate 205 is vibrated, and the vibration is transmitted to the toner contained in the container main body 201, and the bulk toner collapses to give fluidity. At this time, in the illustrated embodiment, the vibration plate body 206 constituting the vibration plate 205 is provided with a plurality of vibration fin portions 206a, so that the toner can be effectively vibrated. Also, the toner cartridge vibration levers 367, 3
The lower surface of the flange 203 is beaten by the 67 to vibrate the container main body 201, and this vibration is transmitted to the toner contained in the container main body 201 to give fluidity. This action is achieved by rotating the rotation shaft 341a of the spiral roller 341 by one.
Since the rotation is performed every time, the toner contained in the container body 201 is intermittently vibrated during the operation of the toner supply device, so that the toner does not harden.

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. As described above, when the guide tray 310 is rotated from the folded position to the guide position, the second portion 252 of the shutter member 250 also becomes thinner.
3 and return 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.

[0030]

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 toner cartridge is provided with a diaphragm protruding from the toner discharge opening with one end attached to the inner surface of the container body and the other end peeling off the seal member. The diaphragm operating means acts on the other end of the diaphragm, causing the diaphragm to vibrate. For this reason, the vibration of the diaphragm is transmitted to the toner contained in the container body, so that the bulk toner collapses and fluidity is given.
Therefore, the toner contained in the container main body does not cause a so-called bridge phenomenon at the lower portion of the container main body, and can smoothly flow down.

Further, according to the present invention, since the vibration plate is provided with the vibration fin, the vibration can be effectively applied to the toner.

Further, since the vibration plate operating means is provided with a toner cartridge vibration lever acting on the lower surface of the container main body, the container main body is vibrated, and this vibration is transmitted to the toner contained in the container main body. And the toner is not hardened.

[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 a front view of a diaphragm attached to the toner cartridge shown in FIG. 3;

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 showing a part of a toner cartridge receiver constituting a toner supply device mounted on the image forming apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the toner cartridge receiver shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a main part of the toner cartridge receiver shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of diaphragm operating means provided on the toner cartridge receiver shown in FIG. 7;

[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 205: Vibrating plate 210: Seal member 220: Winding shaft 250: Shutter member 300: Toner cartridge receiver 310: Guide tray 320: Toner cartridge mounting section 330: Hopper section 340: Toner conveying means 341: Spiral roller 343: input gear 350: driving means 351: electric motor 360: diaphragm operating means 361: operating shaft 362: diaphragm operating lever 363: driven lever 364: driving lever 365: return spring 366: toner cartridge vibration lever

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A toner cartridge having a container body for storing toner and having a toner discharge opening on a lower surface, a seal member removably mounted on a lower surface of the container body and closing the toner discharge opening. And a toner cartridge receiver for detachably mounting the toner cartridge. The toner supply device of the image forming apparatus, wherein the toner cartridge has one end attached to the inner surface of the container body and the other end attached to the container body. Is provided with a diaphragm protruding from the toner discharge opening in a state where the seal member is peeled off. The toner cartridge receiver acts on the other end of the diaphragm to vibrate the diaphragm. A toner replenishing device for an image forming machine, wherein a diaphragm operating means is provided. 2. The vibrating plate comprises a vibrating plate main body, a mounting portion formed at one end of the vibrating plate main body, and an actuated portion formed at the other end of the vibrating plate main body. 2. The toner replenishing device for an image forming machine according to claim 1, wherein the main body is provided with a vibration fin portion projecting sideways. 3. The vibrating plate operating means includes a rotatable operating shaft, a driving mechanism for rotating the operating shaft in a predetermined direction by a predetermined angle, and rotating the operating shaft in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. And a diaphragm operating lever mounted on the operating shaft and acting on the other end of the diaphragm when the operating shaft is rotated in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction. The toner supply device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein 4. An operation shaft constituting said diaphragm operation means, wherein said operation shaft is rotated in a direction opposite to said predetermined direction, said toner contacting a lower surface of said container body constituting said toner cartridge. A cartridge vibration lever is provided,
The toner supply device for an image forming apparatus according to claim 3. 5. A container body for storing toner and having a toner discharge opening on the lower surface, and a seal member removably mounted on the lower surface of the container body and closing the toner discharge opening,
A toner cartridge removably mounted on a toner cartridge receiver disposed on an apparatus body, the toner discharge opening having one end mounted on an inner surface of the container body and the other end peeling off the seal member. A vibrating plate protruding from the toner cartridge, and the other end of the vibrating plate is vibrated by vibrating plate operating means disposed on the toner cartridge receiver. 6. The diaphragm includes a diaphragm main body, a mounting portion formed at one end of the diaphragm main body, and an actuated portion formed at the other end of the diaphragm main body. 6. The toner cartridge according to claim 5, wherein the main body is provided with a vibration fin portion projecting sideways.