JPS604186Y2 - Copying machine toner supply device - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] This invention relates to a toner supply device for supplying toner to the developing device of an electrophotographic copying machine.In particular, by adopting a toner cartridge, toner can be supplied to the developing device without staining hands etc. Involved in improving toner supply devices for copying machines.

Conventional electrophotographic copying machines that use toner as a developer require powdered toner to be regularly replenished into the toner box, but when replenishing, some of the toner scatters, causing injury to the operator. There are problems such as contamination of hands, clothing, or the inside of the copying machine.

This invention was made for the purpose of improving this problem, and by storing the toner stored in the toner cartridge in advance in the toner cartridge and the toner box, and opening the toner cartridge in the toner box, the toner box can be opened. To provide a toner supply device for a copying machine capable of replenishing toner, thereby making it possible to quickly replenish toner without getting a worker's hands dirty.

This invention will be described in detail below with reference to an illustrated embodiment.

In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a toner box provided in a developing device of an electrophotographic copying machine (not shown), and the upper part is open.
A lid body 2 that can be opened and closed is hinged to one side of a.

The bottom of the toner box 2 is sloped so that the width becomes narrower downward, and a supply roller 3 that supplies the toner contained in the toner box 1 to the developing device is rotatably provided at the lower drop opening 1b. It is provided.

Reference numeral 4 denotes a toner cartridge of a size that can be freely inserted into and removed from the square piece of the toner box 1. It has a sealed structure around the circumference except for the bottom, and is filled almost completely with toner to be replenished. At the bottom, two bottom plates 4a are provided which are opened from the center on both sides.

One side edge of each bottom plate 4a is hinged to the lower opening edge of the toner cartridge 4 by a hinge 5 formed of an elastic body of silicone rubber, for example, so that the toner cartridge 4 can be opened and closed downward. A tension spring 6 is tensioned diagonally between the inner surfaces of both sides of the toner cartridge 4 and the upper surface of each bottom plate 4a.
is biased inward.

Furthermore, when the two bottom plates 4a of the toner cartridge 4 are put together, they are formed slightly larger than the lower opening of the toner cartridge 4. Therefore, when the open ends of both bottom plates 4a are aligned with each other, the toner cartridge 4 is slightly chevron-shaped inwardly. At the same time, the open end of each bottom plate 4a is bent inward to form a mating part 4b, and a releasable sealing tape 8 is attached to the outer mating surface of the mating part 4b. has been done.

On the other hand, at the bottom of the toner box 1, there is a toner box 1.
An agitator 7 is provided to agitate the toner filled therein and prevent toner bridges from occurring.

This agitator 7 has a stirring part 7b fixed to a rotatable drive shaft 7a on the lower end side, and the upper end of the stirring part 7b is fixed when the stirring part 7b is rotated in the direction of the arrow by the drive shaft 7a. The bottom plate 4a of the toner cartridge 4 housed in the toner box 1 is protruded to a position where one side of the bottom plate 4a can be pushed up and the other side pushed down.

Since this invention has been described in detail above, when replenishing toner to the toner box 1, the lid 2 of the toner box 1 is opened, and the toner cartridge 4 is placed in the toner box 1 with the openable and closable bottom plate 4a facing down. After loading, the stirring portion 7b of the agitator 7 may be rotated in the direction of the arrow by the drive shaft 7a.

As a result, as shown in FIG. As a result, the toner in the toner cartridge 4 is discharged into the toner box 1. Next, as the agitating section 7b returns, the bottom plate 4a on the opposite side is also pushed open, and the remaining toner is also discharged into the toner box 1. are sequentially discharged to

When all the toner in the toner cartridge 4 is discharged as the toner in the toner box 1 is consumed, each bottom plate 4a returns to its original position as shown in FIG. 4 by the action of the tension spring 6, so that this state By removing the empty toner cartridge 4 from the toner box 1, toner can be replenished without staining the inside of the copying machine or the operator's hands and clothes.

If toner remains on the mating portions 4b of each bottom plate 4a, the mating portions 4b may be bent downward as shown in FIG.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show one embodiment of this invention. Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a toner box, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a toner cartridge, Figs. 3 and 4 are explanatory views of the operation, and Fig. 5 is another embodiment. It is an explanatory diagram of an example. 1 is a toner box, 4 is a toner cartridge, 4a is a bottom plate, and 7 is an agitator.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A toner cartridge 4 is provided, which has a bottom plate 4a that can be freely opened downward, and which stores toner to be replenished therein. Further, the open end of the bottom plate 4a is sealed by a removable sealing means, and a sealing means for the toner cartridge 4 housed in the inner bottom of the toner box 1 which removably houses the toner cartridge 4 is provided. This toner supply device for a copying machine is provided with a rotatable agitator 7 that peels off the toner and opens the bottom plate 4a downward.