JPS61156176A - Developing agent supplying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To surely supply a developing agent without scattering the developing agent with compact constitution, by constitution a forcing member which forces a developing agent carrying member to close a developing agent discharging port of a conical coil spring. CONSTITUTION:The upper end of a coil spring 35 is held by the inner flange 32a of a toner discharging section 32 and the spring 35 always pushes a toner carrying member 34 toward a toner discharging port 33. When a toner cartridge 22 is placed on the toner carrying section at the part 23 of a printer main body, on which the toner cartridge 22 is to be mounted, a pushing-up member 47 provided at the central part of a toner carrying section mounting port 46 under a projected condition contacts the lower surface of the toner carrying member 34 and pushes up the member 34 against the coil spring 35 and the discharging port 33 is opened. Thus the toner in the cartridge 22 is carried out. When the cartridge 22 is removed, the lower end face of the toner carrying member 34 is pressure-contact with the inner edge section of the toner discharg ing port 33 and the toner discharging port 33 is closed. Therefore, no toner is scattered to the outside.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Technical Field of the Invention] The present invention relates to a developer replenishment device applied to an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine or a printer using a dry electrophotographic method, and particularly relates to The present invention relates to a cartridge type developer replenishing device equipped with a developer storage container that is detachably attached to the cartridge.

[Technical background of the invention and its problems]

Image forming apparatuses using dry electrophotography are equipped with a developer replenishment device that automatically replenishes developer (toner) to the developing device. When the developer storage container (toner container) ran out of developer, the developer was transferred from another developer supply container (toner + frtor). but,
When transferring the developer, there is a risk that the developer may spill and stain the machine body, the operator's hands, and clothes, making handling of the developer extremely troublesome and requires careful handling.

Therefore, in recent years, image forming apparatuses equipped with a cartridge-type developer replenishing device including a developer storage container that is detachably attached to a mounting portion have been put into practical use.

Hereinafter, a conventional cartridge type developer replenishing device will be explained with reference to FIGS. ii to 15.

In the figure, 1 is a developer storage container (hereinafter simply referred to as a container) that stores developer (toner) Trc, and this container 1 has a horizontally long box shape, and its length is equivalent to the width of the developing area. .

A developer outlet (hereinafter simply referred to as an outlet) 2 is formed at the bottom of the container 1, and a replenishment roller 3 serving as a discharge means faces directly below the developer outlet. The outflow port 2 is normally closed by a shielding plate 4 as shown in FIG. As shown, the shielding plate 4 is slid and opened by a shielding plate moving mechanism (not shown) or manually.

With this, the internal developer T is supplied from the outlet 2 to the replenishment row 2.
By rotating the replenishing roller 22 by a drive means such as a drive motor (not shown), a desired amount of developer T is supplied to a developing device (not shown) located below the replenishing roller 2. .

Furthermore, when removing the container 1 from the printer body, the developer T can be prevented from scattering to the outside by sliding the shielding plate 4 again to close the outlet 2tl.

Inside the container 1, a detection arm 6 having a magnet 5 at its lower end is rotatably supported by a rotary shaft 7, and can be rotated downward by its own weight. As shown in Figure 12,
When the container 1 is sufficiently filled with the developer T and the filling level of the developer T is high, the detection arm 6 is held at the illustrated position by the drag force of the developer T against its own weight.

On the other hand, as the developer T gradually runs out and the filling level decreases, the detection arm 6 follows and descends.
When the level shown in the figure is reached, the detection position, which is the lowest position, is reached, at which the detection reed switch 8 operates in cooperation with the magnet 5, and sends out a detection signal indicating the absence of developer. Then, this is transmitted to the driving means and the replenishment roller 3 is stopped. Furthermore, the fact that the container 1 should be replaced is visually displayed by sending out the detection signal.

Further, a driving gear 9 is provided adjacent to the container 1 on the side of the glinter body, and this driving force is applied to the intermediate gear 10t-
A lever 12 is provided integrally with the intermediate gear 10, and as the lever 12 rotates, the plate to which the base end of the container IK is fixed is transmitted. It is configured to vibrate by flipping a spring 13.

This vibration is transmitted to the container 1, so that the developer T inside is encouraged to fall.

On the other hand, the cam 14 is fixed to the driven gear 111c,
Along with the rotation, the rotation shaft 7 is rotated to the position shown by the chain line in FIG. 13. As the lever J5 rotates, the detection arm 6 also rotates and is returned to the non-detection position, which is the chain line position in FIG. 11 or the solid line position in FIG. 12.

Therefore, if the above operation is performed once after the container 1 is sufficiently filled with developer T and installed, the detection arm 6 will remain at the detection position and will not erroneously send out a detection signal indicating no developer from the beginning. or can be avoided.

As described above, the conventional cartridge type developer replenishing device has the following problems.

That is, in the conventional cartridge-type developer replenishing device, a developer discharge port formed at the bottom of the developer storage container (toner hole 4) and having a length approximately equal to the width of the developer is closed with a shielding plate. When the developer storage device is attached or removed, the shielding plate is moved manually or by a shielding plate moving mechanism provided outside the developer storage container.

However, the former requires a shielding plate moving mechanism and requires a certain amount of space, making it difficult to make the machine more compact, and the latter, which is performed manually, has problems such as developer scattering outside due to operator error. be.

[Purpose of the invention]

The present invention has been made based on the above-mentioned circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a cartridge-type developer replenishing device that is equipped with a developer storage container that is detachably attached to a mounting portion. Because of its structure, the developer discharge port can be opened and closed automatically according to the attachment/detachment operation to the mounting part, making it extremely easy to handle, without developer scattering, and with a compact configuration. It is an object of the present invention to provide a developer replenishing device that can reliably replenish developer.

[Summary of the invention]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention provides a cartridge type developer replenishment device equipped with a developer storage container that is detachably attached to a mounting portion. , is movable to open and close the developer outlet, is always urged by a biasing member to close the developer outlet, and resists the biasing force of the biaser when attached to the mounting portion. A developer transfer member is provided which moves to open the developer discharge port and transfers the developer to the developer outlet as the developer rotates, and an urging member which urges the developer transfer member. There is no storage space, and the spring is constructed with a conical coil spring that provides a sufficient gap between the wires.

[Embodiments of the invention]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10 of the drawings.

FIG. 1 shows the external configuration of an electronic printer as a dry electrophotographic image forming apparatus equipped with a cartridge type developer replenishing device 20 of the present invention. Reference numeral 21 denotes a printer main body as a main body of the printer, and a developer storage container (hereinafter commonly referred to as a toner cartridge) 22, which is a main part of the replenishing device 20, is located on the rear side of the printer main body 21. It is removably attached to a toner conveying section 18 as a developer conveying section of a developing device provided at the attached section 23 of No. 21 . The toner cartridge 22 is filled with developer (hereinafter commonly referred to as toner). Toner Car) IJ Edge 2
A handle 24 that is convenient to hold when attaching and detaching is provided on the top of the device 2, and a drive portion 25 is provided on the side. A lid 26 is hinged to the mounting portion of the toner cartridge 22 so as to be openable and closable with respect to the printer main body xxK. If the lid 26 is made of, for example, a transparent or translucent glass plate, it can constitute a toner cartridge confirmation section J9 as a developer storage container confirmation section that can immediately confirm whether or not a cartridge is installed inside.

Further, when the lid 26 is formed of a metal plate, the toner cartridge confirmation section 19 can be constructed in the same manner as described above by providing a window hole in a part thereof.

A paper feed cassette 27 is removably attached to the front lower part of the printer main body 21, and the paper P after printing is transferred to the paper ejection tray 29 through the paper delivery port 28 on the front upper surface as shown by the two-dot chain line.
sent upwards.

The printing configuration of the printer employs an electrophotographic method and is not the main point of the present invention, so a description thereof will be omitted.

Note that the toner conveying section 18 includes a toner conveying means (a developer conveying means) consisting of a pair of scratch shafts.
(not shown) is accommodated in the toner cartridge 22.
Therefore, the toner T supplied to the toner transport section 18 is distributed almost uniformly over the development width to the developer storage section of the developing device (not shown).

Reference numeral 30 denotes an operation panel for operating the printer, including operation keys (not shown) necessary for printing, a display section 16 that displays when the toner T in the toner cartridge 22 is running out, and a toner cartridge 22 installed. A display section 17 is provided to display whether or not the current state is being set.

Next, the internal structure of the toner cartridge 22 will be explained with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5.

31 is a housing of the toner cartridge 22; 32 is a toner outlet formed in a spherical protrusion at the bottom of the housing 31; 33 is a toner outlet at the lower end of the outlet 32;
4 is housed in the outflow part 31, and has a spiral groove 34 on the outer periphery.
This is a toner transporting member as a developer transporting member consisting of a rotating body having a diameter of 1k. Reference numeral 35 denotes a conical coil gel ring that elastically suppresses the toner transfer member 34f toward the outlet 33. The upper end of this coil spring 35 is held by the inner flange 52aK of the outflow portion 32.

36 is a drive gear attached to the side of the housing 31 by a support shaft 31, and forms a part of the drive section 25. The support shaft 37 is rotatably supported by a bearing 3BK, and is connected to the outflow member 34 by a coil spring 39 that constitutes a flexible coupling. A V-ring 40 prevents the toner T in the toner cartridge 22 from leaking out through the gap between the support shaft 37 and the bearing 38.

41 is a detection arm whose upper end is rotatably held by a holding member 42 fixed to the housing 31 around a support shaft 43. The lower end of the arm 41 enters into the toner T and is provided with a magnet 44, and a reed switch 45 is provided on the outside of the housing 31 facing the magnet 44. This detection arm 41. Magnet 44. reed switch 4
5 constitutes a detection means for detecting the presence or absence of toner T.

The position of the detection arm 41 shown by a solid line in FIG. As a result, a toner-free detection signal is sent to the outside via the reed switch 45.

On the other hand, the position of the arm 41 indicated by the chain line in FIG. has been done. Then, as the filling level of the toner T decreases, the detection arm 41 also rotates, and when the toner T decreases to a state where it does not touch the detection arm 41, the detection arm 41 automatically reaches the detection position.

Toner supply from the toner cartridge 22 is performed by the drive unit 2.
This is done by rotating the gear 36 of No. 5. That is, the toner transfer member 34 rotates via the coil spring 39, and the internal toner T is gradually sent downward by the screw feeding action of the spiral groove 34 & on the outer periphery, and is discharged downward through the toner outlet 33. Ru.

However, when the toner cartridge 22 is removed as shown in FIG. 2, the lower end surface of the toner transfer member 34 comes into pressure contact with the inner peripheral edge of the toner outlet 33, closing the toner outlet 33 and preventing the toner from flowing out. This prevents the toner T from scattering to the outside even when the toner transport member 34 rotates. As shown in FIG. When the toner conveying section 18 is placed on the mount 046, the push-up member 47 protruding from the center of the mounting 046 comes into contact with the lower surface of the toner conveying member 34, resisting the coil spring 35, and lifting the toner conveying member 34.
Push up slightly. Therefore, the outlet 33 is fully opened and the toner T is sent to the toner transport section 18.

A lever 48 is provided on the top of the toner transfer member 34 and is rotatable integrally therewith, and is fixed to the toner transfer member 34 by a rotating shaft 49 . When the toner transfer member 34 rotates, that is, when the drive section 25 is activated, the lever 48 engages with the detection arm 4 in the detection position as shown in FIG. 4, and moves the detection arm 41 from the detection position. The cam action of the lever 48 serves to forcibly move or return the sensor to the non-detection position.

Therefore, for example, when the arm 41 has not returned to the non-detection position when a new toner cartridge 22 filled with toner T is installed, the lever 48i is rotated only once via the drive unit 25fI as a pre-replenishment operation. If you let me,
The detection arm 41 is reliably returned to the non-detection position. This can prevent malfunction of the detection means.

Note that 50 in FIG. 2 is a toner T inlet;
After supplying, the lid member 51 is sealed to prevent toner from scattering to the outside.

Further, 52 in FIG. 3 indicates the toner cartridge 22.
A reed switch 53 is arranged on the printer main body side opposite to the magnet provided on the side surface of the housing 31. As a result, when the cartridge 22 is attached to the main body, the magnet 52 and the reed switch 53 correspond to each other, and a detection signal indicating that the cartridge 22 is attached is sent out via the reed switch. 1st
(Figure). That is, the magnet 52 and the reed switch 53 constitute a detection means for detecting whether or not the toner cartridge 22 is attached.

Note that, as in the modification shown in FIG. 6, a magnet 5 J h @ 5 j b g5
A magnet is placed at a specific position among four different positions such as 2c and 52d. On the other hand, the printer body 2
Four reed switches 53m, 53b, 53e, and 53d are arranged in advance on the 1 side corresponding to the four different positions of the magnets. Switches 53a-53
It can be divided into four types based on d.

Therefore, for example, if the magnet position of the toner cartridge 22 is set differently for each color of toner T such as black, yellow, magenta, etc., the color type of toner T in the installed toner cartridge 22 can be determined from the detection result. death,
It can be visually displayed on the operating panel 30 (FIG. 1).

This makes it possible to standardize the shape of the toner cartridge 22 and to distinguish the type by simply changing the positions of the magnets 52a to 52d, thereby preventing device errors.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8, the drive section 25, its control structure, and the method of attaching and detaching the toner cartridge 22 will be explained.

In the drive unit 25, a gear 6 is provided on the printer main body 21 side.
0, a gear 6 fixed to the gear 60 via a support shaft 61
2. A gear ti3 meshing with the gear 62 and a cam member 65 fixed to the gear 63 via a shaft 64 are provided.

The gear 63 is connected to a motor 6ei, which is a main part of the driving means.

When the toner cartridge 22 is installed in the printer main body 21, the drive gear 36 meshes with the gear 60. Therefore, when the motor 66 operates, the drive gear 36 is driven to rotate, and the above-described toner replenishment operation is performed.

The motor 66 is connected to a toner concentration detector 67 of a developing device in the printer main body 21 via an automatic control section 68, and when the toner T in the developing device becomes insufficient, the control section 68
A toner replenishment request signal is sent. Thereby, the control section 68 sends an activation signal to the motor 66, and continues to operate the motor 66 during that time, and when the toner supply to the developing device is sufficiently filled, it sends a stop signal to stop the operation of the motor 66. This control section 68 may be constructed from a conventional electrical circuit. In this manner, motor 66 is selectively activated depending on the toner concentration within the developer.

Further, the motor 66 is controlled by the detection means 11 via the control means 70.
It is connected to the. The detection means 21 is the detection arm 41. This includes the configuration of a magnet 44 and a reed switch 45. That is, the detection means 71 is connected to the detection arm 41
When the developer reaches the detection position, a developer empty detection signal is sent to the control means 70. After receiving this detection signal, the control means 70 sends an operation signal to the motor 66 so that the motor 66' serving as the drive means continues to operate for a predetermined period of time, and then stops the motor 66.

That is, since the motor 66 continues to operate for a predetermined period of time even after the detection signal is sent, the toner T still remaining at the bottom of the toner cartridge 22 is transferred to the toner transfer member 34 after the detection arm 41 reaches the detection position. It is actively sent out.

Therefore, the problem of residual toner after the detection operation is solved.

The predetermined period of time during which the control means 70 continues to operate the motor 66 is determined based on the relationship between the amount of remaining toner and the amount of toner delivered by the toner transfer member 34 . In any case, the setting is made so that the remaining toner T is completely exhausted within the relevant time.

With the above configuration, the toner cartridge 22 is completely emptied, so it is economical to leave only unused toner when replacing the cartridge, and there is also no possibility that the remaining toner T may leak out from the toner cartridge 22. Since there are no screws, the replacement work can be done easily without getting your hands dirty.

It should be noted that the control means 70 can be constructed by a conventional electric circuit.

Further, the continuous operation of the motor 66 for a predetermined period of time is possible even when the printing operation of the printer is stopped or activated, since there is a margin in the amount of toner consumed in development. In the latter case, the printing operation can be stopped after the toner transport member 34 stops operating.

Furthermore, if the operation of the motor 66 and, therefore, the operation of the toner transfer member 34 is started immediately after the detection operation, even if the power of the printer is turned off at this timing, when the power is turned on again, Since the developer heat is detected again, the motor 66 and the toner transport member 34 also operate reliably. Alternatively, a memory means for performing a predetermined operation of the toner transfer member 34 may be separately provided, and the memory means may be automatically activated when the power is turned on.

Next, the structure of the vibration generating means 59 of the toner cartridge 22 will be described. Reference numeral 72 is a coil spring, one end of which is suspended by a fixed suspension part 73 within the printer main body 21, and the other end of which is suspended by a leaf spring 74. The leaf spring 74 is attached to the printer main body 2 so as to come into pressure contact with the side surface of the toner cartridge 22 in the installed position. The coil spring 72 is stretched within the rotation locus of the cam member 65. Therefore, when the drive unit 25 is operated, the cam member 65 pushes the coil cylinder 72 out of the trajectory, so the spring 22 vibrates.

As a result, the plate spring 24 also vibrates, but during the vibration, the plate spring 74 maintains a state in which it is in pressure contact with the side surface of the cartridge and the toner is removed.
The entire cartridge 22 is vibrated as one in the lateral direction. Therefore, since the leaf spring 7 does not hit the toner cartridge 22 during vibration, the toner T attached to the inner wall surface of the housing 31 of the toner cartridge 22 can be dropped by the vibration action without generating high noise. I can do it.

Next, a method for attaching and detaching the toner cartridge 22 will be explained.

Toner cartridge 2 shown in solid lines in Fig. 7 and Fig. 8
2), when removing the toner cartridge 22, first place the entire toner cartridge 22 with the spherical toner outlet portion 32 on the toner conveying portion 18, as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. While keeping this position, the outflow portion 32 is tilted toward the rotation center 15. As a result, the drive gear 3
6 is disengaged from the gear 60 on the printer main body 21 side. At the same time, the toner cartridge 22 is also released from frictional engagement with the latching plate 72 attached to the frame 76 of the printer body 21.

In this tilted state), the toner cartridge 22 can be removed by pulling it upward. In this case, toner cartridge 22 is released from resilient engagement with holder 78. The holder 28 is attached to the printer main body 21 side along an axis X-X (seventh
(Fig.) can be rotated and has a locking protrusion 78g on the upper end.
, and is elastically engaged with a locking recess 79 provided corresponding to the toner cartridge 22 . The position of one side and the front side of the toner cartridge 22 is regulated.

The toner cartridge 22 is releasably held in the mounting position by the locking plate 77 and the holder 78, and the toner cartridge 22 can be released from these holding means and removed from the main body in the above-mentioned order.

Further, when installing the toner cartridge 22, the toner cartridge 22 can be easily installed in the reverse order of the removal operation.

Next, modifications shown in FIGS. 9 and 10 will be explained. This modification particularly shows another configuration of the toner-free detection means, and parts common to the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals.

In this modification, an impeller 80 is attached to a support shaft 49 on the toner transfer member 34 in place of the detection arm 41 in the previous embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1O, the impeller 80 is fitted onto the support shaft 49 having a rectangular cross section through a square bearing 81, so that it rotates integrally with the toner transfer member 34 in the rotational direction. It is relatively slidable in the direction.

When the toner cartridge 22 contains enough toner, the impeller 80 is constantly pushed upward by the drag force of the toner T against the blades when the impeller 80 rotates 800 times. Further, movement in the axial direction is stopped at a stop /4'82 at the upper end of the support shaft 49. As the amount of toner decreases, the impeller 80 also descends along the support shaft 49, and finally reaches the detection position shown by the chain line in FIG. In this position the impeller 80 rests on the inner flange 32 & of the outlet 32. At this position, the impeller 80 corresponds to the reed switch 45 disposed on the printer main body 21 side. A magnet 83 is provided at the outer end of one of the blades of the impeller 80, and the reed switch 45 receives a detection signal,
That is, a detection signal indicating the absence of developer is sent out.

In this modification, when the toner detection means is operated after the toner cartridge 22 is filled with toner Tt, the impeller 80 is rotated once within the toner T before detection. It can be raised and returned to the non-detection position reliably.

Therefore, detection errors can be prevented.

Note that the replenishing device of the present invention can also be applied to other image forming apparatuses such as copying machines other than electronic printers.

In addition, it goes without saying that the present invention can be modified in various ways without departing from the gist of the present invention.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, the present invention provides a cartridge-type developer replenishment device equipped with a developer storage container whose beak is removable from a mounting portion. , the biasing body is movable to open and close the developer outlet, and is always biased by a biasing body made of a conical coil spring so as to close the developer outlet when attached to the mounting portion. The developer transfer member moves against the urging force of the developer to open the developer discharge port and, as the developer rotates, transports the developer to the developer outlet. Therefore, in a cartridge-type developer replenishing device that can be freely attached to and detached from the mounted part, although it has a simple configuration, the developer discharge port can be automatically opened and closed in accordance with the operation of attaching and removing the developer to the mounted part. It is possible to provide a developer replenishing device that is extremely easy to handle and does not cause developer scattering.Moreover, since the biasing member that biases the developer transfer member is composed of a conical coil spring,
It requires less storage space and can have a compact configuration, and since sufficient gaps are formed between the lines, the developer can be drained well and the developer can be replenished reliably. play.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of an embodiment of an electronic printer equipped with a developer replenishing device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the developer storage container shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. Fig. 4 is a partial top view taken along the line ■-■ of Fig. 2 showing the engagement relationship between the lever and the detection arm; An explanatory diagram of the main part configuration showing the attachment relationship between the storage container and the connecting part on the main body side, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the discrimination configuration according to the type of storage container, and FIG. 7 is the drive unit and its related control configuration. , and a schematic diagram showing the holding structure of the storage container, FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of a method for removing the storage container, FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view showing an outline of a storage container equipped with a detection means of a different configuration, and FIG. 9 is a plan view of the impeller portion shown in FIG. 9, FIGS. 11 to 14 show a conventional example of a developer replenishing device, and FIGS. 11 and 12 are views of the storage container shown in different operating states. The vertical cross-sectional view, Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of the drive system, Figure 14 is a partially cutaway top view, and the WILS diagram is Figure 1.
FIG. 3 is a top view of FIG. 3; T... Developer (toner), 20... Developer replenishment device, 21... Apparatus main body (printer main body), 22... Developer storage container (toner cartridge), 23... Mounted part , 33...Developer outlet (toner outlet), 34
...Developer transfer member (toner transfer member), 34h...
・Sno J? Erar groove, 35... biasing body (conical coil sgelling). Applicant's Representative Patent Attorney Takehiko Suzue Figure 4 Figure 5 Figure 6 Figure 7 Figure 8 Figure 9 Figure 10 Figure 11 Figure 14 F Figure 13

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) A cartridge-type developer replenishment device including a developer storage container that is detachably attached to a mounting portion, which stores developer and has a developer outlet at the bottom; The developer storage container is movable in order to open and close the developer outlet, and is always urged by a biasing body so as to close the developer outlet, and is also biased when attached to the mounting portion. a developer transfer member that moves against the urging force of the body to open the developer discharge port and transfers the developer to the developer outlet as the member rotates, and the urging member is connected to a conical coil. A developer replenishing device characterized by being configured with a spring. (2) The developer replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the developer transporting member is a rotating body having a spiral groove on its circumferential surface.