JPS61138270A - Toner replenishing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To prevent the scattering of a toner in the stage of replenishing the toner by holding a cap body open state only when a toner contg. body having the cap body energized to keep a lower discharge port closed at all times is mounted to a developing means having a non-reversible turning member. CONSTITUTION:The toner contg. body 1 is constituted by coupling an upper half shell 2 having a trapezoidal sectional shape and a lower half shell 3 having a semicircular sectional shape by means of a flange part 4. The toner discharge port not shown is formed in the longitudinal direction to the bottom surface of the shell 3 and the cap body 9 which can be turned around shafts 8 projected from both end faces of the shell 3 is attached to said shell. The body 9 is so energized by a spring 10 as to close the discharge port. A projection 11 projecting from the end face of the body 9 engages with a pin 18 of a disk 19 attached to the shaft of the end face 16 of a holder 15 when the body 1 is mounted to the holder 15. The disk 19 holds the toner discharge port in the open state by means of a clutch not shown when the body 9 is turned in the opening direction by the projection 11. The cap body 9 is closed automatically when the body 1 is pulled out, thus the scattering of the toner is prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Technical Distribution) The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device applied to a dry type electrophotographic apparatus.

(Prior art) A cylindrical toner cartridge is normally used to supply toner to the developing unit, and after peeling off the seal with the slit-shaped opening provided on a portion of the same side facing upward, this is IIl! The toner is inserted into the holder in the image unit and rotated so that the opening is facing down, and the toner stored inside is discharged into the unit.

However, in order to replenish toner using this type of cartridge, the cartridge must be shaken beforehand to form a block of toner, so when the seal is removed, the toner that has been stirred inside is removed. Soaring from the opening,
When inserting a used cartridge into the holder, toner blows out from the developer tank with air and scatters to the outside, staining the R area.Also, when a used cartridge is turned over and removed, toner adheres to the circumference of the cartridge. This may cause inconveniences such as staining clothes, etc.

(Objective) The present invention has been made in view of these inconveniences, and its purpose is to provide a new toner replenishing device that can completely prevent contamination accidents that are likely to occur during toner replenishment. There is a particular thing.

(Structure) That is, in order to achieve the above problem, the present invention provides a toner storage container having a rotatable lid that is biased in a direction to always close the lower discharge port, and a toner storage container that has a rotatable lid that is biased in a direction to always close the lower discharge port, and a storage container holding means on the developing means, which is equipped with an irreversible rotating member that engages with a portion of the lid body to hold the lid in the open position, opens the discharge port after installation, and closes the discharge port when removed. In this way, there is provided a toner replenishing device that completely eliminates toner scattering to the outside.

Therefore, details of the present invention will be explained below based on illustrated embodiments.

The drawing shows one embodiment of the present invention, and group number l in Fig. 1 indicates an upper half-shell 2 having a trapezoidal cross-section and a lower half-shell 3 having a semicircular cross-section with a flange portion 4 on the periphery. The toner cartridge is integrally joined, and the lower surface of the lower half shell 3 has a
- A toner discharge port 6 provided with a stopper ridge 5 of a lid body 9, which will be described later, is formed in the longitudinal direction, and a spring lO is applied to the circumferential surface of the toner discharge port 6 so as to cover the discharge port 6 at all times. A lid body 9 is mounted so as to be rotatable about shafts 8 protruding from both end faces 7.

On the other hand, a gutter-shaped holder 15 with an open end, which is located at the upper part of the developing unit main body 14 and is formed so that the lower half shell 3 portion of the toner cartridge 1 can be received from one side, includes:
A shaft 17 is provided inwardly protruding from the other end surface 16, and a disc 19 on which an engagement pin 8 is provided protrudes from the opposite direction clutch 2.
0, and is configured so that when the toner cartridge 1 is inserted, it rotates only in the opening direction together with the lid 9.

In the figure, reference numeral 11 is a handle provided on the end surface of the lid body 9, which also serves as an engagement projection with the disc 19, 12 is a handle for attaching and removing the toner cartridge L, 13 is a cap for sealing toner, and 21 is a handle for engaging with the disc 19.
1 and 2 respectively show grooves for sliding guide of the toner cartridge l.

In the embodiment described above, when the toner cartridge 1 is mounted from one side of the holder 15 with the lower half shell 3 facing down, the engagement protrusion 11 protruding from the end surface of the lid body 9 engages with the shaft 17 of the other end surface 16 of the holder. It engages with the engagement pin 18 of the attached disc 19. For this reason, when the lid 9 is rotated counterclockwise in the drawing @1 using the protrusion 11 after the toner cartridge l is installed, the lid 9 is attached so as not to rotate clockwise via the one-way clutch 20. The toner discharge port 6 is held in an open state by a circular plate 19, and the toner stored therein is supplied into the developing unit main body 14.

Further, when the toner cartridge 1 is pulled out from the holder 15 during replacement or the like, the engaging pin 18 of the first disc 19 and the disengaged lid body 9 rotate clockwise due to the biasing force of the spring 10 acting on themselves, and the toner discharge opening is rotated clockwise. 6 to prevent toner from falling.

(Effects) As described above, according to the present invention, the rotatable lid provided on the toner storage container and biased in the closing direction is engaged with the irreversible rotation member provided on the container holding means. Since it is configured to be held in the open position, it is possible to open the discharge section of the toner storage container after installation and automatically close the discharge section when it is removed, thereby preventing toner from scattering that is likely to occur when replenishing. It can be prevented. Furthermore, toner can be replenished while the container is inserted, and the discharge section can be closed by removing the container, thereby eliminating toner adhesion to the circumferential surface of the container.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the main parts of the same device, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a toner cartridge upside down, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a toner cartridge. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the cartridge is installed. ■...Toner cartridge 6...Toner discharge port 9...Lid body 11...Engaging protrusion 14...
...Development unit main body 15...Holder 19...Disc plate 20...
・One-way clutch

Claims (1)

[Claims] a toner storage container having a rotatable lid that is biased in a direction to always close a lower discharge port; and when the storage container is installed, the lid is engaged with a portion of the lid to move the lid to an open position. A toner replenishing device comprising storage container holding means on a developing means having an irreversible rotating member for holding the storage container.