JPS63244078A - Toner hopper - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To permit sure supplying of a toner without stagnating the same by constituting a driving source for a rotational agitating means for the surer agitating and supplying of the toner in such a manner that said source can be controlled independently of a driving source for a supplying means. CONSTITUTION:The driving source of the agitating means 40 is so constituted that said source can be controlled independently of the driving source of an auger 20. The agitating means 40 are periodically actuated by said sources at need. Namely, a control system instructs the time for starting the agitation to a driving system if the agitating means 40 is so set as to rotate for the required time at, for example, every 30min in the case of controlling said means with lapse of time. The rotation of the agitating means 40 is thus executed. The agitating means 40 is thereby automatically rotated at every specified period during use, by which the scraping and agitating of the toner housed in the hopper are executed and the toner is surely supplied toward the auger.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Object of the Invention] (Industrial Field of Application) The present invention relates to an improvement of a toner hopper of an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine, and more specifically, to This relates to a toner hopper that can supply toner.

(Prior Art) In general, a toner hopper that supplies toner to the developing device of an image forming apparatus such as an electronic copying machine is a bottle type or cartridge type in which a toner-containing container is attached to the developing device of the apparatus, and a toner hopper that is installed in the main body. There are two main types: one in which only toner is supplied to a portion of the toner hopper.

In either method, the toner hopper is provided with a supply means for supplying toner to the supplied section at the bottom, and the toner accumulated at the bottom due to its own weight is supplied to the developing device by the supply means. It has become.

That is, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the conventional toner hopper 1 has an auger 2 serving as a supply means at the bottom. This auger 2 is rotated by an auger drive gear 3, and the toner is supplied to the auger 2. The toner is agitated and discharged from the toner outlet 6.

(Problems to be Solved by the Invention) However, in the conventional toner hopper 1 described above, the toner is introduced into the auger 2, which is a supply means provided at the bottom thereof, only by the weight of the toner.
For example, if the toner in the toner hopper 1 becomes agglomerated or partially agglomerated due to the influence of humidity, pressure, viscosity, etc., or if the toner m is extremely reduced,
There is a problem in that the introduction of toner into the auger 2 is obstructed, and the supply of 1-toner to the developing device becomes incomplete, resulting in a reduction in copy image quality.

This state is as shown in FIGS. 6(a) and (b), and in the state where the toner 7 is homogeneous and not agglomerated [FIG. 6(a)], the introduction of the toner 7 into the auger 2 is constant. However, the toner suspension is reduced or the toner 7
In the state where the toner 7 is agglomerated [FIG. 6(b)], the toner 7 adheres to the inner wall of the toner dropper 1 and stays there, and does not fall under its own weight, so the auger 2 rotates and the toner 7 is introduced into the developing device. will be significantly hindered.

Such fluctuations in the toner supply t6 cause shading in the copied image, significantly reducing its quality.

The present invention was achieved as a result of studies aimed at solving the problems of the conventional toner hopper described above.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a toner hopper that can reliably supply toner without accumulating toner.

[Structure of the Invention] (Means for Solving the Problems) That is, the present invention provides a toner hopper having a supply means for supplying toner to a supplied portion at the bottom thereof, in which the toner is stirred and agitated to ensure the supply. The present invention is characterized in that a driving source for the rotary stirring means is configured to be controllable independently of a driving source for the supplying means.

(Function) The toner hopper of the present invention is provided with an agitation means for ensuring the agitation and supply of toner, and the drive source of this rotary agitation means can be controlled independently of the drive source of the supply means. With this configuration, the toner in the toner hopper can be stirred at regular intervals and can be reliably introduced into the supply means without being stagnated.

According to the toner hopper of the present invention, since the toner is stirred at regular intervals, there are no adverse effects such as changes in stress of the toner, thermal deterioration, charging, and contamination due to constant stirring of the toner. Moreover, it is possible to maintain a constant supply of toner, the amount of toner iJl output is stable, and toner clogging does not occur.

Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus equipped with the toner hopper of the present invention, it is possible to obtain a copy image of inferior quality.

(Embodiments) Hereinafter, embodiments of the toner hopper of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner hopper of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a perspective explanatory view of the internal structure thereof, and Fig. 3 (a> (b) (c)
) are explanatory diagrams of the same control circuit.

In the figure, 10 is a toner hopper, 20 is an auger as a supply means, 30 is an auger drive gear, 40 is an agitation means, 50 is an agitation drive gear, and 60 is a toner outlet.

In the toner hopper 10 of the present invention, the auger drive gear 30 and the agitation drive gear 50 are each driven by a separate drive 11 ((motor) not shown), and the auger 20 rotates during toner supply, while the agitation means 40 is configured to rotate periodically to agitate the toner.

Here, in the W1 itching means 40, stirring blades 42 are formed around a shaft 41, and the stirring blades 42 are parallel to the inner wall (both sides) of the toner hopper 10.
It has a length that allows you to scrape out the toner.

The agitating means 40 is rotated and the toner hopper 1 is
By scraping off the toner inside the auger 40 and stirring it, it is possible to reliably introduce the toner into the auger 20. However, if the stirring means 40 is constantly stirred, it may cause stress changes, thermal deterioration, charging, contamination, etc. The toner may be damaged, resulting in poor print quality.

Therefore, in the toner hopper of the present invention, in order to avoid the above-mentioned trouble, the drive source of the stirring means 40 is configured to be controllable independently of the drive source of the auger 20, and periodically It is characterized in that the stirring means 40 is activated.

In other words, when controlling based on the passage of time, if the stirring means 40 is set to rotate for the necessary time every 30 minutes, the Illga system will instruct the drive system to start stirring, The stirring means 40 is rotated. (Refer to Figure 3 ω) Also, if you want to use the copy hanging counter to increase υ11[l, for example, if you set the agitation means 40 to rotate for the necessary time for every 100 sheets of copy paper, you can use the same method as above. The control system instructs the drive system to start stirring, and the stirring means 40 is rotated (see Fig. 3(b)).Furthermore, when a toner mm sensor is used, it is designed to detect the toner level. If this is done, in response to fluctuations in toner m, such as a decrease in toner water, the control wholesale system #12
The drive system is instructed to start stirring, and the *+y means 40 rotates to scrape off and stir the toner. 〈Figure 3 (
(See C)) Therefore, during use, the small toner barrel of the present invention internally rotates the W1 stirring means at regular intervals to scrape off and stir the stored toner, and the auger collects the toner. It is possible to reliably supply and supply in the direction.

[Effects of the Invention] As described in detail in the embodiments above, the toner hopper of the present invention is provided with an agitation means for ensuring the agitation and supply of toner, and a drive source for this rotary agitation means. Since the toner is configured to be controllable independently of the driving source of the supply means, the toner in the toner hopper is stirred at regular intervals and can be reliably introduced into the supply means without being stagnated. .

According to the toner hopper of the present invention, since the toner is stirred at regular intervals, there are no adverse effects such as changes in stress of the toner, thermal deterioration, charging, and contamination due to constant stirring of the toner. Furthermore, it is possible to maintain a constant supply of toner, the amount of toner discharged is stable, and toner clogging does not occur.

Therefore, according to the image forming apparatus equipped with the toner hopper of the present invention, it is possible to obtain copy images of excellent quality.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a perspective explanatory view of the toner hopper of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective explanatory view of the internal structure, and FIGS.
) are explanatory diagrams of the same control circuit, FIG. 4 is a perspective explanatory diagram of the conventional toner hopper, FIG. 5 is a perspective explanatory diagram of the internal structure, and FIGS. 6(a) and <b) are the same operating state. FIG. 10... Tonneau popper 20... Auger (supply means) 30... Auger drive gear 40... Stirring means 42... Rotating vane 50... Stirring drive gear 60... Toner outlet

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) In a toner hopper having a supply means at the bottom for supplying toner to a supplied part, a stirring means is provided to ensure stirring and supply of toner, and a driving source for this stirring means is used to drive the supply means. A toner hopper characterized in that it is configured to be controllable independently of a toner source. (2) The toner hopper as set forth in claim (1), wherein the drive source of the stirring means is operated at fixed time intervals in conjunction with a time control means. (3) The toner hopper according to claim (1), wherein the drive source of the agitation means is operated in conjunction with a copy counting means for every predetermined number of copies. (4) The drive source of the stirring means is linked with the toner detection means,
The toner hopper according to claim 1, wherein the toner hopper is operated according to fluctuations in the amount of toner.