JPS60147770A - Case of developer for electrostatic charge image - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent a developer from pollution due to a developer case by sealing an opening part of an inner cylinder by a flexible seal member so as to tear off the sealed part and fixing an end part extended from a sealing part of the seal member to the recessed position of the inner periphery of an outer cylinder. CONSTITUTION:A slot 1a of the inner cylinder 1 is sealed by the flexible seal member 3. Namely, one end of the seal member 3 is adhered and fixed to one side edge part 1b of the slot 1a which is the end part extended from the sealing part of said seal member 3 and the other end is adhered and fixed to a recessed part 2b formed on a part of the inner periphery of the outer cylinder. The adhering parts can be teared off by applying prescribed tearing off force to the adhered part. Thus, the flexible seal member 3 is fixed at the side edge part 1b, folded and fixed at the recessed part 2b of the outer cylinder 2, so that the incorporated developer D is sealed without leakage and the developer can be prevented from pollution.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Field of Application] The present invention applies to the developing device of an electrostatic recording device such as an electrophotographic copying machine, which has a static charge of 1 g! ! The present invention relates to a developer container inserted and used for replenishing developer.

[Prior art]

Generally, in an electrostatic recording device such as an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrostatic charge image on a moving charge carrier is developed in a developing device, and powder toner is attached to the electrostatic charge image area to form a toner image. , and this is transferred and fixed onto a recording paper. Since toner is consumed along with development, it is necessary to replenish toner to the developing device according to its consumption. A developer hopper is provided as a storage section for replenishing toner. A large amount of toner is stored in the developer hopper, and before the toner is completely consumed, toner is replenished into the developer hopper from a developer container containing replenishment toner.

As is well known, in an electrophotographic copying machine, the I/C
Accordingly, it is necessary to replenish the consumed toner.1 Conventionally, replenishing toner is stored in resin bottles or aluminum foil bags. Therefore, when replenishing toner to a developing device such as an electrophotographic copying machine, the bottle or aluminum foil bag is opened and the toner is poured into the replenishment hopper while turning the bottle or the like to one side.

However, with this toner replenishment method, toner may scatter into the air during replenishment, fingertips may become dirty due to toner adhering to the bottle stopper, or the environment may be contaminated by toner spilling around during replenishment. There is.

Furthermore, as is already known, in a conventional toner replenishing device, for example, toner for replenishment is stored in an inner and outer dual cylinder case each having a slot for a toner outlet formed in a part of the peripheral wall; There is a known toner replenishment device that removes toner by rotating an inner case relative to an outer case after the case is attached to a replenishment hopper.

However, even when replenishing toner using a toner case with such a structure, when the toner case is pulled out from the replenishment hopper after toner has been loaded, the toner adhering to the slot opening of the toner case may spill out.
May adhere to hands. Yes, in the same toner case,
Before installing it in the replenishment hopper, the stored toner may leak out or get between the outer cylinder and the inner cylinder during storage or transportation, which may impede rotation. It may leak or scatter, causing an unexpected accident.

In addition, with conventional toner cases, when the toner case must be pulled out with toner remaining in the toner case (for maintenance of the recording device, failure check, etc.), the space outside the developing device may be contaminated. There was a problem@ In this specification, the term "toner" is used to include not only the electrostatic toner of the two-component developer, but also the sum of the -components and the developer.

[Purpose of the invention]

An object of the present invention is to provide a developer container that prevents developer contamination caused by the developer container as described above.

[Structure of the invention]

According to the implantation of the present invention, this purpose is achieved in a developer container which is composed of a relatively rotatable inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, each of which has an electrostatic image developer discharge opening. The mosquito seal part is sealed with a peelable flexible sealing material.
This is achieved by an electrostatic image developer container characterized in that a sealing portion of the material is fixed to a concave portion of the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder at an elongated end thereof.

〔Example〕

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Details of embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing an embodiment of a developer container according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a steel perspective view thereof.

The developer container has a double structure consisting of an inner cylindrical inner tube 1 for storing a developer, and an outer tube 2 concentrically shaped with a gap around the outer periphery of the inner tube 1. A flexible sealing member 3, which will be described later, is installed in the space.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inner ftJ1 and related members,
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the outside @2 and related parts, and Figure 5
The figure is a front view of the developer container.

The inner cylinder 1 has a hollow cylindrical shape, and a slot 1M in the form of an opening groove having a starting width and a predetermined length in the longitudinal direction is cut out near the upper side wall of the inner cylinder 1, so that the developer can be released and fallen. It has become a mouth.

At the left end of the inner cylinder 1, a lid member 4 is fitted and fixed to the inner diameter portion of the inner cylinder 1, which is tightly sealed after the inner cylinder 1 is filled with developer. Further, at the right end of the inner cylinder 1, there is a sealing part 5a that is fitted and fixed to the inner diameter part of the inner cylinder 1 to be in a closed state, a guide part 5b that is slidably fitted to the inner wall part of the right end of the outer cylinder 2, and A holder member 5 is provided that includes a cylindrical handle portion 5c that projects to the right.

The outer cylinder 2 is a hollow cylinder that surrounds the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 1 in a concentric cylindrical shape with a predetermined gap 2, and a slot (1 m) for the inner cylinder 1 is provided at the lower side wall of the hollow cylinder. A 2 m long opening (groove-shaped slot) is cut out and serves as a developer discharge outlet.

At the left end of the outer cylinder 2, a ring 6 is fitted and fixed to the inner wall of the outer cylinder 2 to maintain a predetermined gap between the outer wall of the inner cylinder 1 and the inner wall of the outer cylinder 2. Further, the inner wall of the ring 6 is slidably fitted to the lid member 4.

Protrusions 7at7b are arranged and fixed in a straight line in the same phase on a part of the outer periphery of the side wall of the outer cylinder 2, and these protrusions 7a
*7b has the same width dimension and fits into a guide rail 11a Ic on the developing device side, which will be described later.

There is also a protrusion 81°8b on the side wall opposite the protrusions 7m and 7b.
are arranged and fixed in a straight line, and each guide rail 12
Fits into m. The protrusions 7*, 7b and 81.8 are located at asymmetrical positions to prevent the developer container from being erroneously inserted upside down when loading it into the developing device. The protrusions can be used symmetrically, or one or three or more can be used.

A projection 5d projects from a part of the flange of the holder member 5 fixed to the right end of the inner cylinder 1.

Furthermore, two stoppers 9A and 9B are fixed to the right end of the outer cylinder 2.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line AA' of the developer container having a double structure of the inner cylinder 1 and the outer cylinder 2. The slot 1a of the inner cylinder 1 is sealed by a flexible seal member 3. That is, one end of the flexible sealing member 3 is adhesively fixed to one edge 1b of the slot (la) on the outer periphery of the inner cylinder 1, and the other end is attached to a part of the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 2. It is adhesively fixed to the recessed portion 2b.

The intermediate portion of the flexible sealing member 3, whose both ends are adhesively fixed in this manner, is adhered at the other edge IC of the slot 1m. At this adhesive part, the adhesive is weakly bonded by heat sealing or the like compared to the adhesive at both ends, and can be peeled off by applying a predetermined peeling force. Therefore, the flexible sealing member 3 has one edge portion 1b as shown in FIG.
By fixing the outer cylinder 2 at the concave part 2b of the outer cylinder 2, the developer material contained therein is sealed and will not leak out. do not have.

Furthermore, the end of the flexible seal member 3 adhesively fixed to the recess 2b on the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 2 is adhesively fixed in a state retracted from the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder 2. When the cylinder 1 is rotated in the forward and reverse directions, the adhesive part does not peel or catch due to deformation of the inner cylinder l or the outer cylinder 2 in the narrow gap between the inner cylinder l and the outer cylinder 2.

As for the materials of each member constituting the developer container according to the present invention, first, the lid member 4 that closes both ends of the inner cylinder 1. Holder part 5. The ring 6 fixed to one end of the outer tube 2 and the stopper 9A*9B may be made of plastic such as polyethylene, polypropylene, high impact styrene, or a metal material. The material of the flexible sealing part □ material 3 is polyethylene, polyester, or polycarbonate.

Polypropylene, polyJM vinylidene, nylon.

Plastic film materials such as polycyclized vinyl, metal materials such as aluminum foil, etc. are used, and these materials are single-layered or laminated, and materials and film thickness that are flexible and have tensile strength and bending strength are required. It is.

The thickness of the seal member is preferably 70 to 150 microns. In addition, the inner cylinder 1g of the flexible seal member 3 and the outer cylinder 2
Adhesion to the substrate is carried out using double-sided adhesive tape, adhesive, thermal bonding, or the like. Inner cylinder 1. Outer cylinder 2+; 1 A cylindrical shape with both ends open. c Shi, for example gold 6! plastic,
It is made from paper, etc., but from a cost perspective, it uses a paper tube made from relatively thick paperboard.

In particular, since the inner cylinder 1 accommodates the developer, it must be moisture-proof, so the inner peripheral surface of the inner cylinder 1 is processed with resin or laminated with polyethylene, nylon, aluminum foil, or the like.

Next, the developer replenishment process 9 using the developer container will be described.

FIG. 7 1 is a diagram showing the state in which the developer container is attached to the developer replenishment section of the developing device, and is a diagram taken along A-A in FIG. 1.
'It is a cross-sectional view along the chain line.

First, hold the developer container with the holder member 5 on the front side, and insert the developer container into the insertion/removal opening of the replenishing section 10 of the developing device with the lid member 4r on the back side. The replenishing section 10 is provided at the upper part of the developing device, and can be freely inserted into and removed from the developer container. Guide members 11112 having regulating grooves 11 m and 12 a, respectively, are fixed on the left and right sides of the inner wall of the supply section. Regulation groove 11 m
Since the +12 islands are located at asymmetrical positions and fit into the projections 7a, 7b, 8a, and 8b of the developer container, the developer container is prevented from being inserted upside down. In addition, the regulation groove is 11 m.
, 12 m can be used symmetrically, and 1
It can also be used with three or more. It is also possible to fix the outer cylinder by providing a restriction groove only at the first position during insertion. Alternatively, a conductive portion that engages with these protrusions may be provided, and the rotation of the motor may be transmitted to the inner cylinder portion of the developer container using the motor of the copying machine to perform automatic toner replenishment.

31! After completely inserting the image agent container along the guide member 11tllC, if the holder member 5 that is integral with the inner cylinder 1 is rotated clockwise, the protrusions 7a and 7bs8a*8 of the outer cylinder 2 will be removed.
Since the outer cylinder 2 is fitted into the regulation groove 11 m 212 m, the outer cylinder 2 cannot rotate, and only the inner cylinder 1 rotates, and the opening 1a of the inner cylinder l rotates downward.

FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of the developer container at the end of rotation of the inner cylinder 1.

When the holder member 5 is manually rotated clockwise, the flexible seal member 3 bonded to the opening edge IC on the outer peripheral wall of the inner cylinder 1 rotates together with the inner cylinder 1. . As the inner cylinder 1 rotates, the flexible sealing member 3 fixed to the recess 2b of the outer cylinder 2 at one end is pulled, peeling off the adhesive at the edge 1a, and gradually opening the throat (la). .

In the final process of opening, the flexible sealing member 3 is housed in the gap between the inner cylinder l and the outer cylinder 2, as shown in FIG.
1ae2m is fully opened, and the entire amount of developer in the inner cylinder 1 falls into the hopper 13 and is accommodated therein.

When removing the developer container from the replenishing section 10 and replacing it with a new developer container, hold the holder member 5 and rotate it counterclockwise, and the inner cylinder 1 will rotate and close the flexible seal member 3 again. is driven, and the slot 1m of the inner cylinder l is closed by the sealing member 3 and the outer cylinder 2. Next, hold the holder member 5 and pull out the developer container. By attaching and detaching the developer container in this way, when the developer is scooped up and replenished by falling, the developer will not scatter outside and contaminate the environment.

Furthermore, even after removing the developer container, the mosquito container thrower)
Since the 1 m container is completely closed, the developer remaining inside the container will not leak to the outside at all.

In the developer container according to the present invention, the slots in the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder are made to have the same length as the entire length of the photoreceptor drum and the developing sleeve, so the developer that falls and is replenished from the opening is distributed evenly over the entire width of the developing sleeve. - It also has the feature of producing a uniform and even toner image.

The electrostatic image developer container described above is preferably a one-component developer container using a magnetic toner, a two-component developer container using a two-component developer, or a two-component developer container using a toner and a carrier. Any of the toner replenishment containers for developer can be used, and the present invention is not limited to any of these.

[Structure of the invention]

The present invention makes it possible to provide an excellent developer container that is easy to handle, prevents developer from flowing out or scattering, and can supply uniform developer to the entire area of the developing sleeve. Ta. Particularly when taking out the developer container with developer remaining in the developer container.1 With the developer container according to the present invention, it is possible to remove the developer container without causing any developer contamination. ◎It is also extremely effective in preventing moisture from unused developer contained in the developer container.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are a side sectional view and a dramatic perspective view of a developer container according to the present invention, and FIGS. 3 and 4 are dramatic views of an inner cylinder, an outer cylinder, and related members constituting the developer container, FIG. 5 is a front view of the developer container, FIGS. 6 and 8 are sectional views showing the developer container in the closed and open states, and FIG. FIG. l...Inner cylinder 1m, 2m...Slot 1be
le... Edge portion 2... Outer cylinder 2b... Concave portion 3... Flexible seal member 5... Holder part 5d... Projection 9A , 9B... Stopper agent Patent attorney No. 1) Parent-in-law] Figure

Claims (1)

[Claims] In a developer container comprising an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder that are relatively rotatable, each having an electrostatic image developer discharge opening, the opening of the inner cylinder is releasably sealed with a flexible sealing member. 1. An electrostatic image developer container, comprising an adhesive portion, and the container is fixed to four positions on the inner circumferential surface of the outer cylinder, which are the extended ends of the adhesive portion.