JPS62121471A - Supply kit for insulating magnetic toner - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To obtain a supply kit which allows a developer to flow in a developer hopper speedily and reduces toner sticking on the internal wall of a toner container by composing the kit of hydrophobic silica externally-added insulating magnetic toner with an about 7.0-50.0 deg. angle of repose and the toner container. CONSTITUTION:The container 12 of the supply kit consists of a cylindrical container part 14, the 1st shutter 15, and the 2nd shutter 16 and the container 12 is fixed to a developer hopper. When the container 12 is rotated until an opening part 151 in the conic surface of the 1st shutter is aligned with an opening part 161 in the conic section surface of the 2nd shutter 16, the insulating magnetic toner is supplied into the developer hopper. The internal wall of the container part 14 is made of thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin and the tribocharacteristics of the insulating magnetic toner are determined in consideration of the frictional electrifying performance of the surface of a toner holding member. Hydrophobic silica is added externally to the insulating magnetic toner and its angle of repose is 7.0-50.0 deg.C, preferably 10.0-40.0 deg., or more preferably 13.0-38.0 deg..

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an insulating magnetic toner replenishment kit for replenishing insulating magnetic toner to a developer hopper of an image forming developing device such as a copying machine and a printer.

Conventionally, developer containers have generally been bags or bottles filled with developer. Inside is a cylindrical container with an opening in the longitudinal direction on the cylindrical surface, and a container for replenishing the developer while peeling off a sealing member pasted over the opening. There is one in which the four sides of five pieces of rectangular aluminum F are sealed, one end of the aluminum bag is opened and the developer in the bag is poured in, but all of them leak and scatter around. , soil the hands and clothes of workers, and contaminate the area around the copier and the floor. In severe cases, toner may adhere to the glass surface of the original on the F side of the copying machine, staining the copy placed on it, and the resulting copy will also be a clean image that captures the stain. becomes.

Further, since the container itself is inserted into the developing device or the hopper for conveying the developer to the developing device, there is a problem in that the developer storage space of the developing device or the hopper is narrowed.

There is also a developer container that has a hollow cylindrical opening on one side and a developer discharge member in the opening. Since the container is simply connected to the hopper mentioned above, it is unlikely to stain clothes or contaminate the surrounding area, but when the developer flows from the container into the hopper, it falls due to its own weight. Alternatively, it is essential to promote the inflow of the developer by a physical external force such as shaking, tapping, or vibrating the top or side surface of the container.

In general, it takes a long time to discharge the entire amount of developer from the container by gravity, and even after the developer is no longer discharged into the container, a large amount of developer still remains in the container. There are many shi19 left.

Also, even when a physical external force is applied, the residual j,
However, toner with poor fluidity of the developer or toner that adheres to the side of the container has poor dischargeability from the container, requires a large amount of time for replenishment, and Waste will also occur due to undischarged residue inside.

However, an object of the present invention is to provide an insulating magnetic replenishment kit that significantly improves the above-mentioned problems.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a replenishment kit that is easy to operate and causes less toner scattering when the container is operated.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a replenishment kit in which toner flows quickly into a developing device or a developer popper and causes less toner adhesion to the inner wall of the container.

That is, the present invention provides an insulating magnetic toner replenishment kit for replenishing insulating magnetic toner to a developer hopper of an image forming developing device containing the insulating magnetic toner, which has an angle of repose of about 7.0 to 50. 0' hydrophobic silica externally added insulating magnetic toner and a container containing the toner, and in a triboelectric charging system, the toner is positioned in the opposite direction with respect to the surface of the toner holding member of the developing device, with the toner as a reference. The container includes a container portion having an inner wall formed of a member having triboelectric charging characteristics, and the container includes a first shutter fixed to an open end of the container portion, and a first shutter fixed to an open end of the container portion. a second shutter that is rotatable relative to the container, has a second opening corresponding to the first opening in which the first shutter is inserted, and is engaged with the container part; An insulating magnetic toner replenishment kit characterized in that the first shutter and the second shutter have engaging portions positioned so that their respective openings coincide.

Hereinafter, an example of the kit of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view of the main parts of a copying machine that can use the replenishment kit of the present invention. 1 is a photosensitive drum that rotates in the direction of the arrow in the figure; 2 is a latent image forming means that projects a document image from the upper surface onto the photosensitive drum 1 for forming an electrostatic latent image to form a latent image on the photosensitive drum l; 3; 1 is a developing device for developing a latent image on a photosensitive drum 1, and includes a toner holding member (sleeve) 26 containing a magnetic field generating means. 4 is a developer hopper that supplies insulating magnetic toner to the developing device; 5 is a transfer paper cassette; 6 is a transfer paper feeder; 7 is a transfer paper fed by the paper feeder onto the photosensitive drum 1; This is a transfer and separation section that transfers a visible image and then separates the transfer paper from the photosensitive drum l.The transfer paper is then sent to the fixing means 9 by the conveying means 8, where it is fixed, and is ejected to the paper ejection tray 10. . Reference numeral 11 indicates a cleaning means for cleaning the photosensitive drum l. 24 is an opening (1 part) for replenishing the insulating magnetic developer to the developer hopper 4;
He is a young man who blocks ``.

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the container 12 of the replenishment kit of the present invention. Reference numeral 14 designates a cylindrical container portion, and a threaded portion 141 is screw-fitted with a threaded portion 171 of the handle 17. A conical first shutter 15 has a fan-shaped opening 151 on its conical surface. The second shutter 16 is a cylindrical member having a conical partition therein so as to come into contact with the conical surface of the first shutter 15. It has an opening 161. 162
is a fixing recess projecting outward from the second shutter portion.

The first shutter has a convex portion 152 and a concave portion 17 of the handle 17.
2, so the first shutter 15
, '732 shutter 169 handle 17 is integrated and can be screwed into container portion 14 filled with insulating magnetic toner. Here, a sealing material 153 is provided to seal the container part 14 and the first shutter 15, and a sealing material 163 is attached to the first shutter and the second shutter, respectively, to seal the first shutter 15 and the second shutter 16. It is preferable.

These sealing materials may include various rubbers such as EPDM, chloroprene rubber, and urethane rubber, and foams such as polyethylene, φ, propylene, and urethane.

FIGS. 4 and 5 are side views showing the two positions regulated by the convex portion 171 and the notch 18 for regulating the opening angle when the first shutter 15 is rotated relative to the second shutter 16.
As shown in the figure.

FIG. 4 shows a state in which the opening of the container 12 is closed because the opening 151 on the conical surface of the first shutter 15 and the opening 161 on the conical partitioning surface of the second shutter 16 are not covered. In FIG. 5, each opening 151, 161 is completely aligned.

The opening of the container 12 is shown in an open state.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing how the container 12 and the opening 24 of the developer hopper 4 are connected. The protrusion 171 of the handle 17,
The container 12 is set in alignment with the notch 18 provided on the inner periphery of the opening 24. At this time, at the same time, the four fixing parts 161 that protrude outward symmetrically to the second shutter part are attached to the convex part 251 of the mesh 25 that is attached to the hopper opening 24.
It is configured to mate with the In the above state, turn the container 12 so that the convex part 171 of the handle 17 becomes the stopper 1 of the notch.
When reaching 81, the container 12 is fixed to the developer hopper 4.

At this time, the concave portion 161 of the second shutter portion is fixed to the convex portion of the mesh 25, so when the container 12 is rotated and brought to the positioning stopper 181, the opening of the container 12 is completely opened and insulated. The magnetic toner is in the developer hopper 4.
will be replenished within.

While replenishing mononuclear insulating magnetic toner, the protrusion 1171 on the handle
is engaged with the key-shaped groove 18, and the container 12 will not fall over even if the replenisher takes his hand off the container 12, so replenishing the insulating magnetic toner is much easier than in the past.
Furthermore, since the fluidity of the insulating magnetic toner of the present invention is within a preferable range, it is possible to quickly replenish it from the container 12. During replenishment, toner convects within the container and comes into contact with the inner wall of the container.

The insulating magnetic toner in the container 12 is a developer! A
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1m 'd-tb peek I Q L T
l Th light + -μ - When removing from the lever 4, turn the container part 14 in the opposite direction and release it in the axial direction. At the same time, the convex part 171 of the handle 17 is removed from the horizontal part of the key-shaped groove 18, and the second shutter is removed. A portion of the concave stopper 16 is removed from the convex portion 251 of the mesh 25. At this time, container 12
Since the opening of the container 12 is closed, even if there is insulating magnetic toner remaining in the container 12, the container 12 can be easily removed without scattering it around and damaging clothes, etc. This eliminates the need to carefully perform drug replenishment operations, making the work easier.

The material of the container part 14 or the inner wall of the container part 14 may be thermoplastic resin or thermosetting resin, such as polyethylene resin, polypropylene resin, polyester resin, polystyrene resin, polyacrylic resin, styrene-acrylic resin (
Polymer resins, phenolic resins, epoxy resins, urea resins, and the like can be used, and are determined by taking into account the tripo characteristics of the insulating magnetic toner, the friction of the surface of the toner holding member, and the liF conductivity. In addition, it is preferable that the container part 14 has shape retention property for storage stability.

The silica externally added insulating magnetic toner of the present invention has a repose angle of 7.0 to 50.0°, preferably 10.0 to 40.0°, and more preferably 13.0 to 38°, which is a measure of its fluidity.
．． A range of 0° can be used.

Anno 70. When the angle is less than 7.0°, the fluidity of the toner is too good, resulting in the toner leaking from the seal portion of the container 12 or the joint portion with the hopper, or staining hands and clothes due to scattering. Further, if the angle is 50° or more, the fluidity inside the container portion 14 described above becomes extremely poor, and the tendency to aggregate increases, and this agglomerated state cannot be broken by external force inside the cylinder. As a result, it takes a lot of time to discharge. In the worst case, the container 12 may not be discharged at all.

However, in the present invention, by using an improved container and an insulating magnetic toner with good fluidity, a more synergistic and preferable effect can be obtained than ever before.

The insulating magnetic toner according to the present invention has a volume average particle size of about 4.0.
~l 5. Og, electrical resistance value 1012Ω・0m
As mentioned above, it preferably has an insulation property of 1Q13Ω·Cm or more and can have a triboelectric charge. Furthermore, the toner has a correlation in the triboelectrification series between the charging characteristic position on the inner wall of the container portion of the container for storing and preserving the toner and the charging characteristic position on the surface of a toner holding member such as a sleeve in the developing device. It has triboelectric properties located at .

The angle of repose in the present invention refers to the angle formed between the generating line of the cone and the horizontal plane when powder is gently dropped onto an upper surface and deposited in a conical shape. This angle is one of the basic physical property values of powder, and the angle of repose of powder that has fluidity, in other words, low internal friction, will be small. This angle of repose is easily influenced by the particle size of the powder and the environment, and the value increases as the particle size becomes finer and as the humidity increases. Therefore, when defining the angle of repose, this particle size, measurement environment and J1
It is essential to clarify the conditions.

The angle of repose of the present invention is measured using a fine micron powder tester at a temperature of 23°C and 160% and in a relative humidity environment. The measurement method is to set the accessory funnel, space ring, and sieve (60 mesh) on a shaking table in this order from the bottom. Next, place an angle of repose table under the funnel so that the tip of the funnel is located at the center of the table. An appropriate amount of toner powder is placed on the sieve, the rheostat is gradually raised, and the sieve is vibrated. At this time, the charm plate must not swing more than 2mm. When toner powder accumulates on the angle of repose table and the toner begins to spill from around the table, stop the vibration, and use the attached protractor stand to find the angle formed by the angle of repose table and the ridge line of the accumulated toner powder. This is called the angle of repose.

As the binder resin of the toner, polystyrene, poly-p-
1iffE combinations of styrene and its substituted products, such as chlorostyrene and polyvinyltoluene; styrene-p-chlorostyrene copolymer, styrene-propylene R-polymer, styrene-vinyltoluene copolymer, styrene-vinylnaphthalene copolymer, styrene -Methyl acrylate J%
Hi aggregate styrene-ethyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-butyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-octyl acrylate copolymer, styrene-methyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-ethyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene- Butyl methacrylate copolymer, styrene-α-
Methyl chlormethacrylate combination, styrene-acrylonitrile combination, styrene-vinylmethyl x
-Til copolymer, styrene-vinylethyl ether copolymer, styrene-vinyl methyl ketone copolymer, styrene-butadiene copolymer, styrene-isoprene copolymer, styrene-acrylonitrile-indene copolymer, styrene-- ' Styrenic copolymers such as Rain PJI polymer and styrene-maleic acid ester copolymer;
Polymethyl methacrylate, polybutyl methacrylate, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, polyurethane, polyamide, epoxy resin, polyvinyl butyral, polyamide, polyacrylic acid resin, rosin, modified rosin, terpene resin, phenolic resin, Aliphatic or alicyclic hydrocarbon resins, aromatic petroleum resins, chlorinated paraffins, paraffin waxes, etc. can be used alone or in combination. Among them, polyester resins and styrene-acrylic acid ester copolymers.

and styrene-methacrylic acid ester copolymer are preferred in consideration of development characteristics and durability. Examples of the magnetic substance contained in the insulating magnetic toner include 1. An alloy or mixture of two or more selected from the group of iron, nickel, copper, tin, zinc, lead, barium, indium, cadmium, selenium, and vanadium; There are fine powders of metal compounds such as iron oxide, copper oxide, nickel oxide, zirconium oxide, copper chloride, and iron acetate. The particle size of these particles is preferably 0.05 to 5 μl (more preferably 0.1 to 1 μm). Also,
The toner may contain coloring agents such as dyes and pigments, charge control agents, and the like.

Hydrophobic silica (for example, Aerosil R-972) is externally added to the insulating magnetic toner according to the present invention. Accordingly, 1, for example, the toner holding member is a stainless steel sleeve, the toner contains polyester resin as a binding resin and a negative charge control agent such as Pondron E81, and the inner wall of the container portion is made of polyethylene. , the inner wall of the polyethylene resin becomes negatively charged due to the friction between the inner wall of the container and the toner caused by preliminary agitation by shaking the container before filling it into the developer hopper and the flow of toner during filling. Polyester resin, which is the binder resin for charged toner, has a positive charge of 47f, but
Since hydrophobic silica with extremely strong negative charge is externally added, it has good fluidity and the inner wall and the silica externally added toner electrostatically repel, so that it is smoothly filled from the container into the developer hopper. The filled toner eventually acquires a negative tripo charge due to sufficient friction with the toner retaining member, and is then used to develop an electrostatic latent image.

The containers used in the present invention are not limited to the shapes shown in the accompanying drawings. For example, in order to improve the efficiency of injecting the developer and replenish the developer into the hopper 4 in a shorter time, a hole may be made in the bottom 141 of the bottle 14 and sealed during storage. It can also be configured to take a sticker. In addition, in this embodiment, the bottle 14, the rotary shutter 15, the fixed shutter 16, and the handle 17
Although they are separated, for example, even if the bottle 14 and the rotary shutter 15 are integrated, they are functionally the same.

Further, in this embodiment, the opening of the developer container 12 is conical in order to increase the opening area, but of course the opening can also be flat.

In addition, the conical surface with the opening 1" part 1.5.16 is the container 12.
Although shown facing outward, it may also face inward. Further, in this embodiment, the center of the conical surface where developer may remain in the first shutter 15 has a conical shape 153 as shown in FIG. 3, but it is also possible to make it a sine curved slope. It is.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 shows a schematic cross-sectional side view of the main parts of a copying machine that can be used with the kit of the present invention, FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the container of the kit of the present invention, and FIG. 3 shows the container and FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the openings of the first shutter and the second shutter are not aligned, and FIG. FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a state in which the openings of the shutter and the second shutter are aligned. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1...Photosensitive drum 3.-Developing device 4...Developer hotter 12...Container 14...Container part 15...First shutter 16...Second shutter 17...Handle 151.161--1--Opening part

Claims (1)

[Claims] (1) In an insulating magnetic toner replenishment kit for replenishing the developer hopper of an image forming developing device containing insulating magnetic toner, the angle of repose is approximately 7.0 to 5.
It consists of an insulating magnetic toner with external addition of 0.0° hydrophobic silica and a container containing the toner, and in a triboelectric charging system, the toner is used as a reference in the opposite direction to the surface of the toner holding member of the developing device. The container includes a container portion having an inner wall formed from a member having triboelectric charging properties, the container having a first shutter fixed to an open end of the container portion, and a first shutter fixed to an open end of the container portion; a second shutter which is rotatable with respect to the container part, has a second opening corresponding to the first opening of the first shutter, and is engaged with the container part;
An insulating magnetic toner replenishment kit characterized in that the shutter and the second shutter have engaging portions positioned such that their respective openings coincide.