JPH1031359A - Toner bottle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To stop up the supplying port of a toner bottle, without using a shutter and to obtain a state where toner is not stuck in the vicinity of the supplying port. SOLUTION: A magnet roller 22 is constituted so that it is supported by the oblong hole 23 of a main body case 21, to be movable toward the supplying port 9. When the toner bottle 20 is removed from a developing unit, the magnet roller 22 is moved by the energization of a spring, to stop up the supplying port 9. Further, the magnet roller 22 is provided with a nonmagnetized part to which the toner is not attracted, on the surface of the roller 22 and a position control means is controlled so that the nonmagnetized part faces the supplying port 9, when the roller 22 is stopped, so that the surface exposed outside from the supplying port 9 is the nonmagnetized part of the roller 22. Thus, in the vicinity of the supplying port 9, the state where the toner is not stuck can be obtained.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention is applied to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for a facsimile apparatus, a copying machine, a printer, and the like, is detachable from the image forming apparatus, and supplies a new toner to a developing device. Related to toner bottles.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when a toner bottle is replaced, the toner in the bottle easily falls or scatters, and the problem of soiling a user's hand tends to occur. In order to prevent this, for example, a shutter for opening and closing the supply port of the toner bottle is provided, and a sponge is attached to the shutter to seal the vicinity of the supply port.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the construction of an electrophotographic apparatus, wherein 1 is a photosensitive drum, 2 is a charger, 3 is a developing device, 4 is a transfer roller, 5 is a cleaning device, and 6 is a toner bottle for storing new toner. Reference numerals 7 denote toner end detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of new toner in the toner bottle 6. The cleaning device 5 and the toner bottle 6 are integrally configured as a cleaner toner magazine 7 (hereinafter, referred to as CTM 7) so as to be detachable from the apparatus main body, and when the CTM 7 is set, the cleaning blade 8 of the cleaning device 5 Comes in contact with the photosensitive drum 1 on the downstream side of the transfer roller 4 with respect to the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 1, and the supply port 9 of the toner bottle 6
Faces the toner carrying port 10 of the developing device 3.

The photosensitive drum 1 rotates clockwise in the drawing. The surface of the rotating photoreceptor drum 1 is uniformly charged by the charger 2, and the surface of the uniformly charged photoreceptor drum 1 is irradiated with light modulated by image information, so that optical writing is performed. An electrostatic latent image is formed. The toner supplied from the developing device 3 selectively adheres to the electrostatic latent image to form a toner image.
By synchronizing the passage of the toner image with the transfer roller 4, the recording sheet is conveyed from a sheet feeding device (not shown) to the transfer roller 4, so that the transfer roller 4 transfers the toner image to the recording sheet. The recording paper on which the toner image is recorded
The sheet is thermally fixed by a fixing device (not shown) and is discharged to the outside. Further, the toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 without being transferred by the transfer roller 4 is collected by the cleaning device 5, and after the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is neutralized,
The process proceeds to the next image forming process.

Since the toner in the developing device 3 is consumed during the image forming process, the toner must be supplied to the developing device 3. Then, the toner bottle 6 is set in the developing device 3 to supply toner. When the toner runs out of toner in the toner bottle 6, the entire CTM 7 is replaced.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the inside showing the structure of the toner bottle. Reference numeral 11 denotes a main body case of the toner bottle 6, and 12 denotes a supply port 9 formed in the main body case 11 and in the longitudinal direction of the main body case 11. It shows a magnet roller arranged above, and the surface of this magnet roller 12 is magnetized and magnetic. Reference numeral 13 denotes an agitator for agitating the new toner stored in the main body case 11, and reference numeral 14 denotes a supply port 9 by rotating.
A shutter sponge 15 attached to the back surface of the shutter 14; and a toner supply rib 16 standing on the downstream side of the supply port 9 with respect to the rotation direction of the magnet roller 12 in the main body case 11. Show.

The toner is conveyed to the magnet roller 12 by the stirring operation of the agitator 13. Magnet roller
Numeral 12 rotates counterclockwise in the figure, and the toner is attracted to the roller surface by magnetic force and is conveyed to the supply port 9. Further, the toner on the magnet roller 12 is blocked by the toner supply rib 16. If the amount of blocked toner exceeds a certain amount, the toner cannot be held by the magnetic force of the magnet roller 12. As a result, the toner falls by its own weight and moves from the supply port 9 to the developing device 3 through the toner carrying port 10 to supply the toner to the developing device 3. Thereafter, the toner is supplied to the developing roller 17 and the intermediate roller. The image is transferred to an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 via the line 18.

The toner end detecting means 19 shown in FIG. 6 detects that the amount of new toner in the main body case 11 has decreased, and generates a signal to notify the user that the time for replacing the toner bottle 6 has come. To

When the toner bottle 6 is set in the developing device 3, the shutter 14 opens the supply port 9 as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. The supply port 9 is closed by a shutter 14 as shown by a solid line in FIG. 7 and is sealed by a sealing sponge 15.

[0010]

However, such a means for opening and closing the supply port 9 does not completely prevent the toner from falling or scattering. For example, when the toner bottle is removed from the main body, the toner is not removed from the developing device. Since the shutter has to be closed slightly away from the shutter, toner may spill before the shutter is closed, and the toner bottle or the user's hand may be stained. In addition, attaching the shutter has led to an increase in cost.

The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and has as its object to provide a toner bottle that can prevent toner from falling or scattering without using a shutter.

[0012]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a toner bottle according to the present invention is provided with a replenishing port for sending out a magnetic toner contained therein to a developing unit in a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. And a magnet roller having a magnetized surface, for adsorbing magnetic toner and transporting the toner to the replenishing port, and further configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. A non-magnetized portion that does not adsorb magnetic toner is formed in the portion, and the supply port is closed only by the non-magnetized portion.

Further, there is provided position control means for rotating the magnet roller so that the non-magnetized portion faces the supply port, and the supply port is used when the toner bottle main body is taken out of the image forming apparatus main body. A moving means for moving the magnet roller in a closing direction is provided.

Further, the rotating shaft of the magnet roller is disposed at an eccentric position, and the non-magnetized portion is formed at a portion separated from the rotating shaft by a large distance, and the non-magnetized portion is located at the supply port. A position control means for sometimes closing the supply port and rotating the magnet roller so that the non-magnetized portion is located at the supply port is provided.

Further, a supply port for sending out the magnetic toner housed therein to a developing unit in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and a surface thereof is magnetized so that the magnetic toner is attracted to the supply port. And a magnet roller for conveying,
Further, in the toner bottle configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body, when the toner bottle main body is taken out from the image forming apparatus main body, moving means for moving the magnet roller so as to close the supply port, and Signal generation means for generating a signal for reverse rotation,
One end is fixed in the toner bottle main body, and the other end is provided as a free end with a scraper that comes into contact with the magnet roller in a direction to peel off toner on the magnet roller when the magnet roller is rotated in the reverse direction. It is characterized by the following.

With this configuration, it is possible to form a state in which the toner bottle replenishing port is closed and no toner is attached near the toner bottle replenishing port without using a shutter or the like.

[0017]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a structural view showing a main part of a toner bottle according to a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein 20 is a toner bottle, 21 is a main body case of the toner bottle 20, and 22 is a magnet roller. The magnet roller 22 includes a magnetized portion that is magnetized and a non-magnetized portion that is not magnetized. The non-magnetized portion corresponds to a portion of the surface of the magnet roller 22 that faces the supply port 9. Set equal or greater. 23 is formed on the main body case 21 and has a magnet roller
The figure shows a long hole that supports the rotation shaft 22a of 22. The long hole 23 is formed toward the supply port 9. The same members as those in the prior art shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 or members having the same functions are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description is omitted.

In the toner bottle 20 of the first embodiment, the supply port 9 is opened and closed by moving the magnet roller 22 up and down without using the shutter 14 and the sealing sponge 15 of the toner bottle 6 shown in FIG. It is composed. That is, as shown in FIG.
When is set in the developing device 3, the magnet roller
Reference numeral 22 opens the supply port 9 as shown by a broken line in the figure and rotates at that position. When the magnet roller 22 is removed from the developing device 3, the magnet roller 22 moves downward to close the supply port 9.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing one side of the toner bottle when FIG. 1 is viewed from the direction A.
a spring that urges a downward.
Is removed from the developing device 3, the magnet roller 22 is moved downward by the bias of the spring 24, and the supply port 9 is closed by the magnet roller 22. 25 is provided on the rotating shaft 22a,
, A drive means for the magnet roller 22; and 27, an abutting member provided on the image forming apparatus main body.

When the toner bottle 20 is set in the developing device 3, the rotating shaft 22a is lifted by the butting member 27, and the supply port 9 is opened. At this time, the rotating shaft 22a and the driving means 26 are connected. Then, the driving of the driving means 26 rotates the magnet roller 22 counterclockwise, so that the new toner in the toner bottle 20 is attracted to the magnetized portion of the magnet roller 22 and conveyed, and the conventional toner shown in FIG. Like the technique, it is supplied to the developing device 3. When the magnet roller 22 is stopped, the position control means 25 always
Control is performed so that the non-magnetized portion of the magnet roller 22 on which the toner is not adsorbed is located at a position facing the supply port 9.
In the first embodiment, a one-turn clutch is used as the position control means 25.

When the toner bottle 20 is removed from the developing device 3 for replacement of the toner bottle 20, the supply port 9 is closed by the magnet roller 22 due to the weight of the magnet roller 22 and the urging of the spring 24. At this time,
Since the non-magnetized portion of the magnet roller 22 is located at a position facing the supply port 9, the magnet roller 22
The non-magnetized portion is approached, and further closes the supply port 9 so that the non-magnetized portion is exposed from the supply port 9.

By configuring the first embodiment in this manner, the vicinity of the supply port 9 can be made to be in a state where there is no toner without using a shutter or the like. It is possible to prevent the inside of the forming apparatus from being soiled.

FIG. 3 is a structural view showing a main part of a toner bottle according to a second embodiment of the present invention, wherein 30 is a toner bottle, 31 is a main body case, 32 is a magnet roller whose surface is magnetized, and 34 is , Formed on the body case 31
The elongated hole 32 supporting the rotation shaft 32a of 32, the toner supply rib 1 33
A scraper having one end fixed in a cantilever shape near 6 and the other end in contact with the magnet roller 32 as a free end is shown. The scraper 33 is provided along the rotation direction (counterclockwise rotation in FIG. 3) of the magnet roller 32 during toner supply. The same reference numerals are given to the same members or members having the same functions as those of the conventional technique shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 or the members of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. Detailed description is omitted.

That is, in the toner bottle of the second embodiment, the non-magnetized portion of the magnet roller 22 of the first embodiment is used as the magnetized portion, and the scraper 33 is provided in the main body case 31.
Is provided, and the magnet roller 32 is rotated forward and backward by the forward and reverse rotation of the driving means 26 without providing the position control means 25.

When the toner bottle 30 is set in the developing device 3, the rotating shaft 32a is lifted by the butting member 27, and the supply port 9 is opened. At this time, the rotating shaft 32a and the driving means 26 are connected. Then, as the magnet roller 32 rotates counterclockwise, the new toner in the toner bottle 30 is supplied to the developing device 3 as in the first embodiment. Further, when the toner end detecting means 19 (see FIG. 6) generates a signal with the elapse of time, the driving means 26 reversely rotates the magnet roller 32 for a certain time after the image forming process is completed. During this rotation, the scraper 33 comes into contact with the rotating direction of the magnet roller 32 from the opposite direction.
The toner adsorbed on 32 is scraped off by scraper 33 and returned to agitator 13 side. As a result, the surface of the magnet roller 32 is cleaned. The agitator 13 is preferably stopped while the magnet roller 32 is rotating in the reverse direction.

When the toner bottle 30 is detached from the developing device 3 for replacement of the toner bottle 30, the supply port 9 is moved to a magnet-free state by the weight of the magnet roller 32 and the bias of the spring 24. The roller 32 is closed.

By configuring the second embodiment as described above, since toner does not adhere to the magnet roller 32 that closes the supply port 9, the toner is scattered when the toner bottle 30 is replaced, so that the toner It is possible to prevent the inside of the image forming apparatus from being stained.

The timing of rotating the magnet roller 32 in the reverse direction may be not only at the time of toner end, but also at the time other than the replacement of the toner bottle 30, such as a recording paper jam or a warning of replacement of the photosensitive drum. Further, a scraper 33 may be provided in the toner bottle 20 of the first embodiment. At this time, it is necessary to configure the position control means 25 so as to be able to perform normal / reverse rotation of the magnet roller 22 (see FIG. 1) and position of the non-magnetic portion.

FIG. 4 is a view showing the structure of a main part of a toner bottle according to a third embodiment of the present invention. A case 42 indicates a magnet roller having a configuration in which the rotation shaft 22a of the magnet roller 22 of the first embodiment is arranged at an eccentric position. This magnet roller 42
The portion where the distance from the rotating shaft 42a is large is a non-magnetized portion, and the small portion is a magnetized portion.
Reference numeral 43 denotes a seal sponge provided in the main body case 41 and at the edge of the supply port 9, and reference numeral 44 denotes the same configuration as the scraper 33 of the second embodiment. The magnet roller 42 is fixed and the other end is free end.
, 45 denotes position control means for controlling the rotational position of the magnet roller 44, and 46 denotes drive means serving as a drive source for the rotary shaft 42a. The same reference numerals are used for the same members or members having the same functions as the members of the related art shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 or the first and second embodiments shown in FIGS. And the detailed description is omitted.

When the portion of the magnet roller 42 having the minimum separation distance (hereinafter referred to as the minimum separation point) faces the supply port 9, the supply port 9 is opened and the portion of the maximum separation distance is provided.
When the supply port 9 (hereinafter, referred to as a maximum separation point) faces the supply port 9, the supply port 9 is closed by the magnet roller 42. When the supply port 9 is closed by the magnet roller 42, the seal sponge 43 comes into contact before and after the maximum separation point.

When the toner bottle 40 is set in the developing device 3, the rotating shaft 42a of the magnet roller 42
6 and rotate counterclockwise to the magnetic roller 4
The toner in the magnetized portion near the minimum separation point 2 is supplied to the developing device 3 through the supply port 9. That is, when the magnet roller 42 rotates, the maximum separation point gradually increases, the supply port 9 opens, toner is supplied, and the supply port 9 is closed as the maximum separation point decreases. The toner supply is performed while repeating this. At the time of stop, the magnet roller 42 is reversely rotated for a certain time,
After the toner on the surface is scraped off by the scraper 44, the maximum separation point is always exposed from the supply port 9 by the position control means 45. Therefore, since the surface exposed from the supply port 9 is a non-magnetized portion, the toner does not adhere near the supply port 9.

With the configuration of the third embodiment, when the maximum separation point of the magnet roller 42 passes through the supply port 9, the supply port 9 is closed by the magnet roller 42. Further, when the magnet roller 42 is rotated in the reverse direction at the time of stopping, the magnet roller 42 gradually comes into contact with the seal sponge 43 immediately before the maximum separation point reaches the supply port 9. When the cover is closed, the toner on the surface exposed from the supply port 9 is scraped off by the seal sponge 43, so that the toner does not adhere to at least the surface exposed from the supply port 9. As a result, even if the toner bottle 40 is removed from the developing device 3 and replaced, the toner can be prevented from being stained. Further, the conventional shutter 14, the spring 24 and the abutting member 27 in the first embodiment are not required.

[0034]

According to the present invention as described above, a state in which the toner bottle replenishing port is closed and toner is not attached near the toner bottle replenishing port without using a shutter or the like is formed. can do. As a result, while reducing the cost of the toner bottle,
Since the toner is prevented from dropping and scattering, the user can replace the toner bottle without soiling the hands with the toner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram illustrating a main part of a toner bottle according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing one side of the toner bottle when FIG. 1 is viewed from a direction A.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram illustrating a main part of a toner bottle according to a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating a main part of a toner bottle according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a front view showing one side of the toner bottle of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a configuration diagram of an electrophotographic apparatus.

FIG. 7 is an internal side view showing a configuration of a conventional toner bottle.

[Explanation of symbols]

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Photoreceptor drum, 2 ... Charging device, 3 ... Developing device, 4
... Transfer roller, 5 ... Cleaner, 6,20,30,
40: toner bottle, 7: toner end detecting means, 8
... Cleaning blade, 9 ... Supply port, 10 ... Toner carry-in port, 11, 21, 31, 41 ... Main body case, 12, 22, 3
2, 42 ... magnet roller, 12a, 22a, 32a, 42a ... rotating shaft, 13 ... agitator, 14 ... shutter, 15 ... sealing sponge, 16 ... toner supply rib, 17 ... developing roller, 18 ... intermediate roller, 23, 34 ... long hole, 24 ... spring, 25,45 ... position control means, 26,46 ... drive means,
27: Butt member, 33, 44: Scraper, 43: Seal sponge.

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A replenishing port for sending a magnetic toner housed therein to a developing unit in a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and a surface of which is magnetized to attract magnetic toner to the replenishing port. And a magnet roller for transporting, and a non-magnetized portion that does not attract magnetic toner is formed on a part of the surface of the magnet roller in a toner bottle configured to be detachable from the image forming apparatus main body. A toner bottle, wherein the replenishing port is closed only by a part. 2. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a position controller configured to rotate the magnet roller so that the non-magnetized portion faces the supply port. 2. The toner bottle according to claim 1, further comprising a moving unit that moves the magnet roller in a closing direction. 3. The non-magnetized portion is formed at a position where the rotation axis of the magnet roller is eccentric, and the non-magnetized portion is located at a portion separated from the rotation shaft by a large distance. 2. The toner bottle according to claim 1, further comprising a position control unit that closes the supply port, and further rotates the magnet roller such that the non-magnetized portion is positioned at the supply port. 4. A replenishing port for sending the magnetic toner housed therein to a developing device in the main body of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and a magnetized surface, which attracts the magnetic toner to the replenishing port. And a magnet roller for transporting the toner bottle, and further moving the magnet roller so as to close the replenishing port when removing the toner bottle main body from the image forming apparatus main body. A moving means for causing the magnet roller to rotate in reverse, and a signal generating means for generating a signal for rotating the magnet roller in a reverse direction. And a scraper which comes into contact with the magnet roller in a direction in which the toner on the magnet roller is peeled off when the toner roller is Le.