JPS5938768A - Toner supply device in dry type developing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the deposition of a toner on both sides of the slit of a toner cartridge, by vibrating the toner cartridge by a mechanism consisting of a cam, a lever which rocks according to the rotation of the cam and a tension spring which keeps the lever in contact with the cam at all times. CONSTITUTION:A cam 8 is mounted to the revolving shaft of a toner supply brush 4. A lever 9 is mounted freely turnably around a pivotal shaft 10 so as to contact with the cam 8. The lever 9 is constituted of two arm parts 9a, 9b, and a tension spring 11 is hooked to the tip of the arm 9a, by which the arm 9a is brought into contact with the cam 8 at all times. On the other hand, the tip of the arm 9b is adjacent to the outside surface of a toner cartridge 1. When the cam 8 rotates, the arm 9a pivots around the shaft 10 as shown by an arrow, then the tip of the arm 9b taps periodically the outside surface of the cartridge 1 thereby vibrating the cartridge 1.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a toner supply device in a dry developing device employed in an electrophotographic copying machine.

Although various types of toner supply devices have been devised for use in dry developing devices of electrophotographic copying machines, cylindrical toner cartridges are often used because they are easy for operators to handle. Due to its structure, this cylindrical toner cartridge has
It is very easy for the operator to handle, and there is little chance of contamination caused by toner, but since the cross section is cylindrical, toner tends to remain on both sides as the curvature of the cylindrical circumferential surface increases. To solve this problem, when replacing a cartridge, it is necessary to have the operator take a picture of the cartridge and ensure that the remaining toner is dropped into the toner supply device. If the operator forgets to do this, he or she will have to pull out the cartridge and replace it with the toner remaining, which could stain the operator's hands or clothes with the toner.

The present invention eliminates and improves the drawbacks of such prior art, and
To provide a toner supply device that does not cause the operator's hands or clothing to be soiled with toner when replacing a toner cartridge.

That is, the toner supply device of the present invention applies tension/? to the cam attached to the camshaft. By making the lever follow the force of the lever, the lever is swung according to the rotation of the cam, and as a result of this oscillation, the tip of the lever hits the cylindrical toner cartridge, causing the cylindrical toner cartridge to vibrate. Features.

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

FIG. 1 shows an example of a toner supply device equipped with a cylindrical toner cartridge. A cylindrical toner cartridge 1 is inserted along a cartridge guide 2 from the front side of the machine and is supported so as to rotate in the direction of the arrow. Toner is contained in the cylindrical toner cartridge 1,
As the cylindrical toner cartridge 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow, this toner falls downward through the slit 3 provided in the cylindrical toner cartridge 1. A toner supply brush 4 is rotatably attached below the cylindrical toner cartridge 1 . By contacting the toner supply plastic plate 5, toner is prevented from solidifying and adhering to the brush. A screen mesh is provided below the toner supply brush, and the tip of the toner supply brush 4 contacts the screen mesh to cause the toner to fall downward through the mesh opening as shown by the arrow. In the case of such a cylindrical toner cartridge 2,
Toner 7 on both sides of slit 3 due to centrifugal force and gravity
is accumulated and does not fall toward the toner supply brush 4. In order to prevent such accumulation of residual toner, it is desirable that such a toner supply device be provided with a mechanism that periodically vibrates the cylindrical toner cartridge.

An example of the vibration mechanism of this cylindrical toner cartridge is shown in FIG. Referring to FIG. 2, a cam 8 is attached to the rotating shaft of the toner supply brush 4. As shown in FIG. This cam 8
A lever 9 is rotatably mounted around a pivot 10 so as to come into contact with the lever 9. This lever 9 has a lower arm portion 9a.

9b, and a tension spring 11 is attached to the tip of the arm 9a.
is hooked, and the arm 9a is thereby constantly in contact with the cam 8. On the other hand, the tip of the arm 9b is adjacent to the outer surface of the toner cartridge 1. When the cam 8 rotates, the arm 9a pivots around the pivot 10 as shown by the arrow, so that the tip of the arm 9b is adjacent to the outer surface of the toner cartridge 1. Vibrate the toner cartridge ■ by periodically tapping the outer surface of the toner cartridge ■. Since the toner cartridge 1 is thus periodically vibrated, toner is prevented from accumulating on both sides of the slit 3.

In the above embodiment, a mechanism for vibrating the toner cartridge is constructed by a combination of a cam, a lever, and a tension spring, but other vibrating mechanisms are easily possible. Further, in the above embodiment, the rotating shaft of the toner supply brush also serves as the camshaft, but other rotating shafts may be used as the camshaft. However, the rotation axis of the toner supply brush is
Since the cam is located near the toner cartridge, it is preferable to attach the cam to the rotating shaft of the toner supply brush as in this embodiment in terms of lever size or space.

As described above, the present invention vibrates the toner cartridge using a mechanism consisting of a cam, a lever that swings as the cam rotates, and a tension spring that keeps the lever in constant contact with the cam. Toner is not deposited on both sides of the slit of the cartridge, thus solving conventional problems such as staining clothes due to residual toner when toner is replaced. Furthermore, since the vibration mechanism of the present invention is composed of a cam, a lever, and a tension spring, it has a simple structure and is highly economical.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a schematic sectional view of a toner supply device having a conventional cylindrical toner cartridge, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing a toner cartridge vibration mechanism of the toner supply device of the present invention. l... Toner cartridge, 2... Cartridge guide, 3... Slit, 4... Toner supply brush,
5... Blocking prevention plate, 6... Screen mesh, 7... Residual toner, 8... Cam, 9... Lever, 9a19b... Arm, 11... Tension spring.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A toner supply device for a dry developing device using a cylindrical toner cartridge, comprising: a cam attached to a camshaft adjacent to the outer surface of the cylindrical toner cartridge; a lever that swings according to rotation of the cam; and a swinging lever. and a tension spring for keeping the cam in contact with the cam at all times, and when the swing lever swings, the tip of the swing lever strikes the outer surface of the cylindrical toner cartridge, causing the cylindrical toner cartridge to vibrate. A toner supply device in a dry developing device, characterized in that: