JPS6267571A - Toner hopper - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To securely make up toner and to always obtain the copy of a sharp image without a drop in density by constructing the side wall of a toner hopper with a transparent plate whose inner surface is applied with an electrification prevention agent and making the remaining toner visible. CONSTITUTION:In terms of the toner hopper 1, a scale 2a is displayed on the front wall 2 of the hopper 1, and therein the toner 3 is contained. The front wall 2 is constructed with a transparent or translucent plate made of plastic such as acrylic and polycarbonate in order to see the contained toner 3 visually, and its inner front face is applied with the electrification prevention agent. In such a way the remainder of the toner 3 can be visually checked. When a toner remainder sensor acts and a makeup display lamp lights up, the remainder of the toner in the toner hopper 1 can be checked, and toner can be made up in an appropriate time.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION (Field of Industrial Application) The present invention is applicable to office equipment such as copying machines, laser printers,
The present invention relates to a toner hopper used in a developing device such as a facsimile machine.

(Prior art) Conventionally, when to replenish toner to the developing device of a copying machine, the presence or absence of toner is detected by the frequency change of a toner remaining amount sensor such as a piezoelectric sensor attached to the lower side wall of the toner hopper, and the presence or absence of toner is indicated on the control panel. It was common to be notified by a flashing light or other display.

(Problem to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the above configuration, even if the toner remaining amount sensor of the toner hopper works and the display on the control panel flashes to notify the time to replenish toner, the toner hopper still has 1000 toner remaining.
Approximately 0 sheets of developing toner remain, and as a result, the user continues to work without replenishing toner, resulting in a problem of obtaining copies with low density.

As a countermeasure for this, if you set the remaining toner amount sensor to work just before the toner is consumed, there will be a problem that the toner density will drop and the display will blink when the copy becomes a light IIA copy. Ta.

Further, even if the side wall of the toner hopper is formed of a transparent plate, there is a problem that the toner is fine particles and is easily charged, so it adheres to the side wall and the inside cannot be seen through.

The present invention solves the above-mentioned problems, and provides a toner hopper in which the remaining amount of toner can be visually confirmed in combination with a remaining toner amount sensor.

(Means for Solving the Problems) In order to solve the above problems, the present invention comprises at least the visible side wall of the toner hopper made of a transparent material coated with an antistatic agent on the inner surface. be.

(Function) With this configuration, by configuring the toner hopper so that the transparent side wall is disposed in front, the state of toner reduction can be visually confirmed from the side wall to which toner does not adhere, and the indicator light is displayed. In conjunction with the display, you can accurately determine when to replenish toner.

(Example) Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a toner hopper according to the present invention. The toner hopper 1 has a scale 2a displayed on its front wall 2, and a toner 3 is stored therein. The front wall 2 is made of a transparent or semi-transparent plate made of plastic such as acrylic or polycarbonate so that the stored toner 3 can be seen through when the front door of the copying machine body (not shown) is opened. The antistatic agent is coated on the front surface of the inner surface. Therefore, even if the fine particle toner 3 is charged, the front side wall 2
It does not adhere to.

The antistatic agent is selected from sulfonates, sulfuric acid derivatives, quaternary ammonium salts, polyhydric alcohols, alkylphenol E○ adducts, and the like.

With this configuration, since the inner surface of the front wall 2 of the toner hopper 1 is coated with an antistatic agent, the toner 3 does not adhere to it, and the amount of consumed remaining toner 3 can be visually confirmed. Therefore, when the remaining toner sensor is activated and the replenishment indicator light is displayed.

By checking the remaining consumed amount of the toner hopper 1 and accumulating data that allows determining the remaining amount immediately before the image density decreases using the scale 2a, toner reinforcement can be carried out at an appropriate time.

Although the antistatic agent is applied to the front surface of the front side wall 2 in FIG. 1, in the second embodiment shown in FIG. It goes without saying that the same effect can be obtained even if it is applied in a rectangular shape.

(Effects of the Invention) As described above, according to the present invention, at least the visible side wall of the toner hopper is constituted by a transparent plate coated with an antistatic agent on the inner surface, and the remaining amount of toner consumption can be visually confirmed. In combination with the toner replenishment timing indicator light based on the toner remaining amount sensor, reliable toner replenishment is possible, and clear images can always be copied with no loss of density.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

1 and 2 are perspective views of first and second embodiments of toner hoppers according to the present invention, respectively. 1... Toner hopper, 2... Front side wall, 2a
... Scale, 3 ... Toner. Patent applicant: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd. Figure 1: Toner hopper

Claims (1)

[Claims] A toner hopper characterized in that at least a visually visible side wall is made of a transparent material coated with an antistatic agent on the inner surface.