US3840156A - Tuner supply device - Google Patents

Tuner supply device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3840156A
US3840156A US00318457A US31845772A US3840156A US 3840156 A US3840156 A US 3840156A US 00318457 A US00318457 A US 00318457A US 31845772 A US31845772 A US 31845772A US 3840156 A US3840156 A US 3840156A
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US
United States
Prior art keywords
roller
toner
hopper
toner supply
supply device
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
US00318457A
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English (en)
Inventor
S Fujimoto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Ricoh Co Ltd
Original Assignee
Ricoh Co Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ricoh Co Ltd filed Critical Ricoh Co Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US3840156A publication Critical patent/US3840156A/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G03—PHOTOGRAPHY; CINEMATOGRAPHY; ANALOGOUS TECHNIQUES USING WAVES OTHER THAN OPTICAL WAVES; ELECTROGRAPHY; HOLOGRAPHY
    • G03G—ELECTROGRAPHY; ELECTROPHOTOGRAPHY; MAGNETOGRAPHY
    • G03G15/00—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern
    • G03G15/06—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing
    • G03G15/08—Apparatus for electrographic processes using a charge pattern for developing using a solid developer, e.g. powder developer
    • G03G15/0822—Arrangements for preparing, mixing, supplying or dispensing developer
    • G03G15/0877—Arrangements for metering and dispensing developer from a developer cartridge into the development unit

Definitions

  • a toner supply device comprising a hopper containing a quantity of toner and havinga downwardly facing toner supply opening which is blocked by a rotating roller having on its periphery a plurality of axial grooves. As the roller rotates, the toner powder which is packed into the peripheral grooves is carried through the toner supply opening of the hopper and is supplied at a uniform rate to a developing device of a copying machine. Means are provided for scraping off toner powder which may adhere to the groove walls, and for selectively varying the rate at which toner is discharged from the hopper.
  • a toner supply roller is rotatably mounted within the outlet port of a hopper containing a quantity of toner.
  • the roller is rotated continuously or intermittently, as desired, so as to supply toner to the developing device through a slit formed between the periphery of the roller and the outlet port of the hopper.
  • toner supply devices Since the toner is in the form of very fine powder, it is readily influenced by humidity, and tends to form solid masses which adhere to the periphery of the roller. Toner powder which adheres to the roller tends to build up in quantity and block the slit. As a result, no more toner is supplied, or the toner drops into the developing device in large pieces. Even when there are no difficulties caused by the influence of humidity, the rate at which toner is supplied to the developing device is, of course, a function of the size of the slit, and the setting of the slit size to an optimum level requires a skillful operator and repeated attention.
  • An object of the invention is to provide a toner supply device which obviates the aforementioned disadvantages of the prior art toner supply devices. This object is accomplished in the present invention by providing a toner supply device that discharges toner at a selected steady rate and is not affected by changes in the humidity and cannot be degraded by buildup of toner adhering to a roller.
  • the toner supply opening of the hopper is blocked by a toner supply roller having a plurality of axial grooves on its periphery. There is substantially no clearance between the toner supply roller and the toner supply opening of the hopper, so that the toner in the hopper is protected from atmospheric humidity.
  • the toner powder which is in its peripheral grooves is carried out. through the supply opening of the hopper to be delivered to a developing means.
  • Means are provided to scrape off any toner powder which may remain in the peripheral grooves of the toner supply roller, so that each groove carries out the same amount of toner with each rotation of the toner supply roller, and toner is supplied to the developing means at a steady rate. Means are provided for selectively varying the rate at which toner is supplied to the developing means.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a toner supply device comprising one embodiment of the invention
  • FIG. 2 is a fragmentary enlarged schematic view of the device shown in FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspectiveview of the device shown in FIG. 1 and illustrates a toner supply roller and toner scraping means;
  • FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of another form of toner scraping means
  • FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective view of still another form of toner scraping means.
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of means for controlling the quantity of toner supplied by the toner supply device shown in FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 1 shows a hopper 2 partially filled with a quantity of toner 1 and having at its right hand end a downwardly facing opening 3 which is blocked by a toner supply roller 4.
  • the quantity of toner 1 in the hopper 2 can be replenished through a top opening 2d which is covered with a hinged lid 20e.
  • the downwardly facing opening 3 in the hopper 2 is substantially rectangular in shape and is formed by the right hand edges 2a and 2b of the top and bottom walls of the hopper, and by the lower right hand edges of the two opposing side walls of the hopper 2 which are parallel to the plane of the drawing but are not shown.
  • the axial cross section of the toner supply roller 4 is approximately equal to the area of the opening 3 in the hopper 2, so that the opening 3 is substantially blocked by the toner supply roller 4, and no toner can seep out of the hopper 2 when the roller 4 is not rotating.
  • the roller 4 is fixedly mounted on a shaft 6 (FIG. 3) and the shaft 6 extends through the two side walls of the hopper 2 which are not shown and is suitably rotatably supported thereby to allow for rotation of the toner supply roller 4.
  • toner supply roller 4 has along its cylindrical periphery a plurality of adjacent grooves 4a which are sawtooth shaped in transverse cross section.
  • the toner supply roller is rotated in the clockwise direction by a drive means 11a which rotates at a selected steady speed a sprocket 11 secured to the shaft 6 (FIG. 3). Since the opening 3 of the hopper 2 is substantially blocked by the toner supply roller 4, the only toner powder which can be carried out of the hopper 2 is the powder packed within the grooves 4a. Under most conditions, no toner powder would adhere to the walls of the grooves 4a, and all of the toner powder carried out of the hopper 2 by means of the rotating toner supply roller 4, would fall downwardly toward a developing device (not shown).
  • means are provided to scrape the grooves 4a clean of any toner powder that may have adhered thereto.
  • These means comprise a sheet 7 which is made of a resilient material and has an upwardly bent forward end 7a which is biased to press against the lower portion of the toner supply roller 4 and to scrape off the walls of each groove 4a coming in engagement with it as the toner supply roller 4 rotates in the clockwise direction.
  • the resilient sheet 7 is suitably supported by a bracket 8 affixed to the lower wall 2c of the hopper 2.
  • the resilient sheet 7 is biased to press against the toner supply roller 4 with sufficient force to efficiently scrape off any toner powder which may have adhered to the grooves 40 such that no toner powder remains in the grooves 4a which are returned to the hopper 2 as the roller 4 rotates in the clockwise direction.
  • the toner supply device illustrated in FIG. 1 additionally includes means for agitating the toner powder in the hopper 2 and for making sure that there is a steady and reliable supply of toner powder near the opening 3, so that the toner supply roller 4 can carry out a steady and constant stream of toner powder.
  • These means include a perforated sheet 9 which is disposed immediately above the lower sloping wall 20 of the hopper and has a right hand end extending almost to the toner supply roller 4, and an upwardly extending left hand end 90 which is secured to a piston 10a of a vibrator 10.
  • the piston 10a is suitably mounted in the left hand portion of the wall 2c of the hopper 2 for reciprocating motion against the biasing force of a spring 10b.
  • the piston 10a moves in reciprocating motion first leftwardly against the biasing force of the spring 1017. then rightwardly under the biasing force of the same spring 10b, and thus vibrates the perforated sheet 9.
  • the perforated sheet 9 performs two functions: it agitates the toner inside the hopper 2, and it moves the toner toward the toner supply roller 4 to insure an adequate supply of toner thereto.
  • FIGS. 4 and 5 show two additional and alternate embodiments of scraping means similar to the scraping means 7 illustrated in FIG. 1.
  • the scraping means shown in FIG. 4 comprise a pair of arms 41 (only one arm is shown) which are pivotally supported by a shaft A which is suitably affixed to the hopper 2.
  • the ends of the arms 41 which are opposite the ends pivotally supported by the shaft A support fixedly a bar 42 which corresponds in shape and in function to the upwardly extending portion 7a of the resilient sheet 7. That is, the bar 42 is biased by means of springs S connecting the arms 41 to the hopper 2 such that the bar 42 is always pressing against the lower portion of the toner supply roller 4 to scrape off any toner powder which may have adhered to the grooves 40.
  • FIG. 5 shows scraping-off-means similar to the means shown in FIG. 4, except that the function of the bar 42 is performed by a wire 51, which may be made of a material such as metal or nylon.
  • the wire 51 is urged against the lower portion of the toner supply roller to scrape off any adhering toner powder.
  • the toner supply device of the subject invention includes therefore means for selecting the rate at which the toner supply roller 4 discharges toner from the hopper 2.
  • the means are illustrated in FIG. 6 and include a mechanism' for selecting a fast or a slow discharge rate.
  • the shaft 6 which is affixed to the toner supply roller 4 carries a fixedly secured ratchet wheel 111 which is coaxial with the toner supply roller-4.
  • the means for rotating the ratchet wheel 111, and hence the toner supply roller 4, at either a slow speed or a fast speed correspond to the drive means 11a of FIG. 3 and comprise, referring to FIG.
  • a wheel 613 which rotates at a selected steady speed and drives a gear 612 through a clutch 614.
  • the gear 612 is in meshing engagement with a gear 610 having an offset pin 610a for driving a bell crank arrangement of a lever 611 and a pivotal arm 608.
  • the pivotal arm 608 is rotatably supported near its center by a stub shaft 602 passing through a suitable aperture in the pivotal arm 608, and has at its top end a pivotally mounted pawl 607 which is biased by a spring 609 to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 111.
  • the stub shaft 602 is suitably mounted for free rotation and is coaxial with the shaft 6, but is not in contact therewith.
  • the stub shaft 602 supports fixedly a control cam 601 which is parallel to and adjacent the ratchet wheel 111, and a gear 603 which is affixed to a shaft 605 extending through the enclosure (not shown) ofa copying machine and terminating in a control knob 606 which is located outside the enclosure.
  • the rate at which toner is discharged from the hopper 2 is controlled by setting the control cam 601 to a selected one of two possiblepositions by means of turning the control knob 606.
  • the control cam 601 has an arcuate portion 601a and another arcuate cam portion 601b, with the diameter of the portion 601a being greater than that of the portion 60112.
  • the diameter ofthe portion 601a of the cam 601 is somewhat greater than the addendum circle of the ratchet wheel 11, while the diameter of the arcuate portion 601 of the control cam 601 is somewhat smaller than the diameter of the dedendum circle of the ratchet wheel 111.
  • the diameters of the arcuate portions 601a and 601i; and the pertinent dimensions of the bell crank arrangement for converting the rotary motion of the gear 610 into reciprocating motion of the pawl 607 are such that the toner supply roller 4 rotates at one speed when the pawl 607 rides over the arcuate portion 6010, but at another speed when the pawl 607 rides over the arcuate portion 60112 of the control cam 601.
  • the pertinent dimensions may be such that when the pawl 607 rides only over the arcuate portion 601b, one reciprocating motion of the pawl 607 rotates the ratchet wheel 111 along a distance corresponding to four ratchet teeth thereof.
  • the pertinent dimensions may be such that one reciprocating motion of the pawl 607 moves the ratchet wheel 111 only along a distance corresponding to three ratchet teeth thereof. In this manner, the speed of rotation of the toner supply roller 4, and hence the rate at which it supplies toner, may be controlled by means of the control knob 606.
  • a toner supply device comprising a hopper for containing a quantity of toner, said hopper having a closed and continuous bottom except for a'toner discharge opening in it, a toner supply roller rotatably mounted within said toner discharge opening of the hopper and having a portion disposed within the hopper and a portion extending outwardly of the hopper,
  • said outwardly extending hopper portion being exposed and freely accessible from outside the hopper, said rolof the hopper.
  • a toner supply device as in claim 1 wherein the means for rotating the roller comprise means for selectively rotating the roller at a fast and a slow rate to thereby selectively discharge toner at a high and low rate respectively.
  • a toner supply device as in claim 9 wherein the means for selectively preventing the pawl from engaging the ratchet wheel for a portion of the pawl path comprise a cam having a small diameter portion and a large diameter portion, means for supporting the cam in a position in which said pawl engages the ratchet wheel when riding over the small diameter portion of the cam, but does not engage the ratchet wheel when riding over the large diameter portion of the cam, and manually operable setting means selecting the position of the minor and major diameter portions of the cam with respect to the pawl path.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)
  • Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)
US00318457A 1971-12-27 1972-12-26 Tuner supply device Expired - Lifetime US3840156A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP1972003073U JPS52517Y2 (de) 1971-12-27 1971-12-27

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US3840156A true US3840156A (en) 1974-10-08

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ID=11547151

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US00318457A Expired - Lifetime US3840156A (en) 1971-12-27 1972-12-26 Tuner supply device

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US3840156A (de)
JP (1) JPS52517Y2 (de)
DE (2) DE2265463C2 (de)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4277003A (en) * 1978-09-19 1981-07-07 Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha Developing material supplying device
US4353485A (en) * 1979-02-15 1982-10-12 Aluminum Company Of America Apparatus for conveying particulate material by spring expansion and contraction
US6510291B2 (en) 2001-04-19 2003-01-21 Lexmark International, Inc Toner supply with level sensor and meter and method of using the same
US20220241868A1 (en) * 2019-07-16 2022-08-04 Sandvik Machining Solutions Ab Powder dispensing apparatus

Families Citing this family (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
JPS563719Y2 (de) * 1975-08-01 1981-01-27
JPS5253431A (en) * 1975-10-27 1977-04-30 Mita Ind Co Ltd Development device
JPS5622208Y2 (de) * 1976-07-17 1981-05-25
JPS56146155A (en) * 1980-04-15 1981-11-13 Mita Ind Co Ltd Electrostatic copying machine
JPS584162A (ja) * 1981-06-30 1983-01-11 Mita Ind Co Ltd トナ−補給装置

Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US115750A (en) * 1871-06-06 Improvement in broadcast fertilizer-distributers
US982018A (en) * 1909-10-02 1911-01-17 Charles E Patric Planting-machine.
US1519199A (en) * 1923-08-25 1924-12-16 Okie F Green Sprayer
US2643032A (en) * 1949-09-30 1953-06-23 Virkotype Corp Powder dispenser and distributor
US2728308A (en) * 1953-11-12 1955-12-27 Read Standard Corp Dough pump
US3140016A (en) * 1962-03-20 1964-07-07 New York Air Brake Co Device for maintaining the flow of solid powdered materials
US3572555A (en) * 1969-05-27 1971-03-30 Ibm Xerographic toner dispenser

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3013703A (en) * 1958-11-28 1961-12-19 Xerox Corp Powder dispensing apparatus
US3038442A (en) * 1958-12-29 1962-06-12 Burroughs Corp Electrostatic developing apparatus
GB1168085A (en) * 1966-10-07 1969-10-22 Canon Camera Co Improved Electrophotographic Apparatus
DE1772387C3 (de) * 1967-05-25 1974-01-17 Kabushiki Kaisha Ricoh, Tokio Vorrichtung zur Entwicklung von Ladungsbildern mittels Pulverentwickler

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US115750A (en) * 1871-06-06 Improvement in broadcast fertilizer-distributers
US982018A (en) * 1909-10-02 1911-01-17 Charles E Patric Planting-machine.
US1519199A (en) * 1923-08-25 1924-12-16 Okie F Green Sprayer
US2643032A (en) * 1949-09-30 1953-06-23 Virkotype Corp Powder dispenser and distributor
US2728308A (en) * 1953-11-12 1955-12-27 Read Standard Corp Dough pump
US3140016A (en) * 1962-03-20 1964-07-07 New York Air Brake Co Device for maintaining the flow of solid powdered materials
US3572555A (en) * 1969-05-27 1971-03-30 Ibm Xerographic toner dispenser

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4277003A (en) * 1978-09-19 1981-07-07 Minolta Camera Kabushiki Kaisha Developing material supplying device
US4353485A (en) * 1979-02-15 1982-10-12 Aluminum Company Of America Apparatus for conveying particulate material by spring expansion and contraction
US6510291B2 (en) 2001-04-19 2003-01-21 Lexmark International, Inc Toner supply with level sensor and meter and method of using the same
US20220241868A1 (en) * 2019-07-16 2022-08-04 Sandvik Machining Solutions Ab Powder dispensing apparatus

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
DE2262773A1 (de) 1973-07-12
JPS52517Y2 (de) 1977-01-08
DE2262773B2 (de) 1979-01-18
JPS4878848U (de) 1973-09-28
DE2265463C2 (de) 1982-10-28
DE2262773C3 (de) 1979-09-20

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