WO2016103932A1 - トナー容器及び画像形成装置 - Google Patents
トナー容器及び画像形成装置 Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2016103932A1 WO2016103932A1 PCT/JP2015/081568 JP2015081568W WO2016103932A1 WO 2016103932 A1 WO2016103932 A1 WO 2016103932A1 JP 2015081568 W JP2015081568 W JP 2015081568W WO 2016103932 A1 WO2016103932 A1 WO 2016103932A1
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- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- toner container
- supply port
- toner
- shutter
- port
- Prior art date
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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
- G03G15/0881—Sealing of developer cartridges
- G03G15/0886—Sealing of developer cartridges by mechanical means, e.g. shutter, plug
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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
- G03G15/0865—Arrangements for supplying new developer
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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
- G03G15/0896—Arrangements or disposition of the complete developer unit or parts thereof not provided for by groups G03G15/08 - G03G15/0894
- G03G15/0898—Arrangements or disposition of the complete developer unit or parts thereof not provided for by groups G03G15/08 - G03G15/0894 for preventing toner scattering during operation, e.g. seals
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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
- G03G15/0865—Arrangements for supplying new developer
- G03G15/0875—Arrangements for supplying new developer cartridges having a box like shape
-
- 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
- G03G15/0881—Sealing of developer cartridges
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a toner container for containing toner and an image forming apparatus provided with the toner container.
- an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum or the like is developed into a toner image by a developing device.
- toner is supplied from a toner container such as a toner container or an intermediate hopper.
- the toner container is provided with a supply port for supplying toner to the developing device, and the supply port is opened and closed by a shutter mechanism.
- a shutter mechanism An example of such a shutter mechanism will be described with reference to FIGS. 11A and 11B.
- a supply port 102 is formed in the duct portion 101 of the container body, and a cylindrical shutter member 104 is rotatably supported by the duct portion 101.
- a discharge port 105 through which toner is discharged is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the shutter member 104.
- a seal member 106 is provided around the discharge port 105.
- the discharge port 105 communicates with the replenishing port 102 and the toner is discharged from the container main body (see FIG. 11A).
- the supply port 102 is opened and closed by rotating between the closed position (see FIG. 11B).
- Patent Document 1 discloses a toner container in which a seal member is disposed inside the supply port 102 of the duct portion 101.
- Patent Document 2 discloses a toner container in which a cover member is rotatably provided on the outside of a shutter mechanism, and the periphery of the supply port is covered with this cover member to prevent toner scattering.
- the shutter member always rotates in the same direction toward the closed position, which is caused by the directionality of the shutter member. It is difficult to suppress toner accumulation, and the accumulated toner may fall or scatter.
- the toner container described in Patent Document 2 requires a mechanism for rotating the cover member, which complicates the structure and control.
- an object of the present invention is to provide a toner container capable of suppressing toner contamination due to toner adhering to a replenishing port and an image forming apparatus including the toner container.
- a toner container is a toner container having a toner supply port, a container main body that contains toner, and a shutter mechanism that opens and closes the supply port.
- the cover member is provided to move in an opening direction and a closing direction from the opening position toward the closing position opposite to the opening direction, and the cover member is configured to release the shutter member.
- the image forming apparatus of the present invention includes the toner container.
- the toner adhering to the edge of the replenishing port is held between the cover member and the edge, so that toner contamination due to the fall of the adhering toner can be prevented.
- FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically illustrating a color printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 4 is a rear view showing a front plate of a toner container mounting portion in the color printer according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 3 is a side sectional view showing a front end portion of a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a front cross-sectional view showing a shutter mechanism in an open position in the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view illustrating a shutter mechanism in a closed position in a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a seal member and a cover member in the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- 4 is a side view of a seal member and a cover member in a toner container according to an embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing a seal member and a cover member attached to a shutter cylinder in the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 5 is a front cross-sectional view showing a shutter mechanism at the time of shipment in the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- it is a diagram showing a state in which the tip of the cover member has reached the supply port.
- FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which a cover member is elastically deformed in the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing toner accumulation in a conventional toner container.
- FIG. 10 is a side sectional view showing toner accumulation in a conventional toner container.
- FIG. 1 is a front view schematically showing the overall configuration of a color printer.
- the front side of the paper surface in FIG. 1 is the front side (front side) of the color printer, and the left-right direction is based on the direction when the color printer 1 is viewed from the front.
- the color printer 1 includes an image forming unit 2 and an image reading unit 3 disposed above the image forming unit 2.
- an in-cylinder discharge space 4 having an opening on the front surface and the left side surface is formed between the image forming unit 2 and the image reading unit 3.
- a discharge tray 5 is provided on the upper surface of the image forming unit 2.
- the image forming unit 2 is provided with a paper feed cassette 6 below, and above the paper feed cassette 6 is provided an exposure device 7 composed of a laser scanning unit (LSU).
- LSU laser scanning unit
- the intermediate transfer belt 8 provided between the rollers and the four image forming units 9 arranged in parallel along the lower portion of the intermediate transfer belt 8 are accommodated above the image forming unit 9.
- a mounting portion 11 on which a toner container 10 (toner container) that stores toner of four colors is mounted.
- Each image forming unit 9 includes a photosensitive drum 13 that is a rotatable image carrier, a charging device 14 that is sequentially arranged around the photosensitive drum 13 along the rotation direction of the photosensitive drum 13, and A developing device 15, a transfer roller 16, a cleaning device 17, and a static eliminating device 18 are provided. A primary transfer portion is formed between the photosensitive drum 13 and the transfer roller 16.
- a transfer roller 19 is disposed on the right side of the intermediate transfer belt 8, and a secondary transfer portion 20 is formed between the intermediate transfer belt 8 and the transfer roller 19.
- a fixing device 21 is provided above the secondary transfer unit 20, and a paper discharge device 22 facing the paper discharge tray 5 is provided above the fixing device 21. Further, a sheet conveyance path 23 is formed from the sheet feed cassette 6 through the secondary transfer unit 20 and the fixing device 21 to the sheet discharge device 22.
- each image forming unit 9 After the surface of the photosensitive drum 13 is charged by the charging device 14, a static light corresponding to the image read by the image reading unit 3 is emitted by the laser light from the exposure device 7 (see arrow P). An electrostatic latent image is formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 13. The electrostatic latent image is developed into a corresponding color toner image by the developing device 15 using the toner supplied from the toner container 10. This toner image is primarily transferred onto the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 8 by the transfer roller 16. Each image forming unit 9 sequentially repeats the above operation, whereby a full-color toner image is formed on the intermediate transfer belt 8. The toner and the charge remaining on the photosensitive drum 13 are removed by the cleaning device 17 and the charge removal device 18.
- the sheet fed from the sheet feeding cassette 6 is conveyed to the secondary transfer unit 20 along the conveyance path 23 in synchronization with the above-described image forming operation.
- 8 full-color toner images are secondarily transferred to the sheet.
- the sheet on which the toner image is secondarily transferred is conveyed downstream in the conveyance path 23 and enters the fixing device 21, and the toner image is fixed on the sheet in the fixing device 21.
- the sheet on which the toner image is fixed is discharged from the paper discharge device 22 onto the paper discharge tray 5.
- FIG. 2 is a view of the front plate of the mounting portion as seen from the rear side.
- the mounting portion 11 has a front plate 31 and a rear plate (not shown) corresponding to the front and rear direction, and the toner containers 10 are mounted side by side between the front and rear plates.
- a guide groove 32 extending obliquely downward from the upper end is formed at the mounting position of each toner container 10.
- the guide groove 32 is branched into a first groove portion 33 and a second groove portion 34 from a substantially center in the length direction.
- the length of the first groove portion 33 is shorter than the length of the second groove portion 34, and a protrusion 35 is defined between the first groove portion 33 and the second groove portion 34.
- a first rotating portion 37 is rotatably provided at the lower end of the first groove portion 33, and a second rotating portion 38 is rotatably provided at the lower end of the second groove portion 34.
- Guide grooves 37 a and 38 a parallel to the inclination direction of the guide portion 32 are formed in the first rotating portion 37 and the second rotating portion 38, respectively.
- a lever 39 is formed integrally with the first rotating portion 37.
- FIGS. 3 is a perspective view of the toner container
- FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of the front end portion of the toner container
- FIGS. 5 and 6 are front sectional views of the front end portion of the toner container
- FIGS. 7A and 7B are a seal member and a cover member.
- FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the seal member and the cover member are supported by the shutter cylinder (shutter member).
- the toner container 10 includes a container main body 41 in which toner is accommodated, a shutter mechanism 42 that permits or regulates toner supply from the container main body 41 to the developing device 15, and stirring that stirs toner.
- a paddle (not shown), a conveying screw 43 (see FIG. 4) for conveying toner, and a mounting cover 44 that engages with the mounting portion 11 are provided.
- the container main body 41 has a shape that is long in the front-rear direction, and includes a main body portion 46 whose upper surface is open and a lid portion 47 that closes the upper surface of the main body portion 46. As shown in FIG. 4, a filling port 48 filled with toner is formed in the upper part of the front surface of the main body 46. The filling port 48 is closed with a cap 49 after the toner is filled.
- a substantially cylindrical duct portion 51 projects from a lower portion of the front surface of the container body 41, and a supply port 52 for supplying toner to the developing device 15 is formed on the lower surface of the duct portion 51.
- the replenishing port 52 has a square shape, and one edge 52a (the right edge in FIGS. 5 and 6) of the edges facing the circumferential direction of the duct 51 is directed from the inside to the outside.
- the other edge 52b (the left edge in FIGS. 5 and 6) is inclined in the lower right direction from the inside toward the outside.
- a shaft portion 54 is rotatably provided on the front surface of the container body 41 obliquely above the duct portion 51.
- a plate-like first connecting portion 54 a is formed on the front surface of the shaft portion 54.
- the first connecting portion 54 a is inclined in the same direction as the guide groove 32 of the mounting portion 11.
- a first gear 55 is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shaft portion 54 along the circumferential direction.
- the shutter mechanism 42 is rotatably accommodated in a duct portion 51 protruding from the front surface of the container body 41, and as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, a substantially cylindrical shutter cylinder 57 (shutter member). And a seal member 58 and a cover member 59 provided on the outer surface of the shutter cylinder 57.
- the shutter cylinder 57 has a bottomed cylindrical shape having a circular front wall and a cylindrical outer peripheral wall. As shown in FIG. 3, a plate-like second connecting portion 57a is formed on the front surface of the front wall. The second connecting portion 57 a is inclined in the same direction as the guide groove 32 of the mounting portion 11. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a bearing portion 61 is formed on the rear surface of the front wall.
- a discharge port 63 is formed on the outer peripheral wall of the shutter cylinder 57.
- the discharge port 63 has a square shape larger than the supply port 52.
- a second gear 65 that meshes with the first gear 55 is formed at the front end of the outer peripheral wall along the circumferential direction.
- the seal member 58 has a square shape with a predetermined thickness, and a square opening 67 surrounding the periphery of the discharge port 63 is formed at the center.
- the seal member 58 is made of, for example, urethane resin.
- the cover member 59 is a sheet-like member that can be elastically deformed, and is formed integrally with the seal member 58. As shown in FIG. 7A, the cover member 59 includes a horizontally long rectangular base portion 71, and an extension portion 73 connected to one short side of the base portion 71 via a perforation 72 (folded portion). Have. An opening 74 corresponding to the opening 67 of the seal member 58 is formed in the base portion 71.
- the extending portion 73 has a taper-shaped adhesive portion 73a from the perforation 72 and a rectangular tip portion 73b provided at the tip of the adhesive portion 73a.
- the width of the distal end portion 73 b is approximately the same as the width of the supply port 52.
- PET polyethylene terephthalate
- a seal member 58 is attached to one surface of the base portion 71 around the opening 74 with a double-sided tape 76, and the opening 74 and the opening 67 of the seal member 58 are formed.
- the extending portion 73 is folded at the perforation 72, and the adhesive portion 73 a is attached to the base portion 71 with a double-sided tape 77. That is, the extending portion 73 is folded back 180 ° with respect to the base portion 71 at the perforation 72.
- the tip end portion 73 b extends so as to overlap the seal member 58. Note that the distal end portion 73 b does not reach the opening 67 of the seal member 58.
- a double-sided tape 78 is affixed to the other surface of the base portion 71.
- the cover member 59 attached to the seal member 58 is positioned so that the opening 67 of the seal member 58 and the discharge port 63 of the shutter cylinder 57 communicate with each other. It is wound around the outer peripheral wall of 57 along the circumferential direction and stuck with a double-sided tape 78 (the double-sided tape is omitted in FIG. 7C). Since the outer peripheral wall of the shutter cylinder 57 is a curved surface and the cover member 59 is a sheet-like member that can be elastically deformed, the base portion 71 is curved along the outer peripheral wall, but the distal end portion 73b is formed from the adhesive portion 73a. It extends linearly in the direction of the opening 67 along the tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall.
- the shutter cylinder 57 is accommodated so as to be rotatable along the inner peripheral surface of the duct portion 51 of the container body 41 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
- the seal member 58 is interposed between the shutter cylinder 57 and the duct portion 51 while being compressed in the thickness direction, and the cover member 59 is interposed between the inner peripheral surface of the shutter cylinder 57 and the outer peripheral surface of the duct portion 51. Compressed and stored. Further, the distal end portion 73 b of the extending portion 73 is sandwiched between the duct portion 51 and the seal member 58 and elastically deformed into a curved shape along the inner peripheral surface of the duct portion 51.
- the stirring paddle has a front end rotatably supported on the rear surface of a shaft portion 54 provided on the front wall of the container main body 41, and a rear end supported rotatably on the rear wall of the container main body 41.
- the front end of the transport screw 43 is rotatably supported by the bearing portion 61 of the shutter cylinder 57, and the rear end is rotatably supported by the rear wall of the container body 41.
- the rear end of the agitation paddle and the rear end of the conveying screw 43 protrude from the rear wall of the container body 41 and are connected to a drive source (not shown) via a drive gear (not shown).
- a drive source not shown
- a drive gear not shown
- the mounting cover 44 is mounted above the duct portion 51 and the shaft portion 54 on the front surface of the container body 41.
- a block-shaped positioning projection 81 is formed on the front surface of the mounting cover 44, and the positioning projection 81 is formed with a slit 81 a having an open lower end.
- the width of the positioning protrusion 81 is equal to the width of the guide groove 32 of the mounting portion 11, and the width of the slit 81 a is formed to be equal to the width of the protrusion 35 of the mounting portion 11.
- a method for supplying toner from the toner container 10 having the above configuration to the developing device 15 will be described.
- a method for attaching the toner container 10 to the attachment unit 11 will be described with reference to FIGS.
- the positioning protrusion 81 of the mounting cover 44 is inserted into the guide groove 32 formed in the front plate 31.
- the positioning protrusion 81 is guided obliquely downward along the guide groove 32, and the first connection portion 54 a formed on the shaft portion 54 is guided along the first groove portion 33, and the second connection formed on the shutter cylinder 57.
- the portion 57 a is guided along the second groove portion 34.
- the positioning protrusion 81 slides until the protrusion 35 is engaged with the slit 81a.
- the first connecting portion 54a When the first connecting portion 54a is guided to the lower end of the first groove portion 33, the first connecting portion 54a engages with the guide groove 37a of the first rotating portion 37, and the second connecting portion 57a is secondly guided to the lower end of the second groove portion 34. Engage with the guide groove 38 a of the rotating portion 38. As a result, the toner container 10 is mounted on the mounting portion 11.
- a relay conveyance unit 91 is provided below the mounting unit 11 between the toner container 10 and the developing device 15.
- a receiving port 92 corresponding to the supply port 52 of the toner container 10 is formed in the relay conveyance unit 91.
- a ring-shaped seal member 93 is arranged in two stages around the receiving port 92.
- the relay conveyance unit 91 is provided with a conveyance screw 94 and conveys the developer replenished from the toner container 10 toward a replenishment port (not shown) of the developing device 15.
- the first rotating portion 37 rotates together with the lever 39, and the shaft portion 54 is rotated through the first connecting portion 54a. Rotate with. Then, the rotation of the shaft portion 54 causes the second connecting portion 57a to rotate in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the first connecting portion 54a via the first gear 55 and the second gear 65.
- the shutter cylinder 57 rotates in the duct portion 51 by the rotation of the second connecting portion 57a, and opens and closes the supply port 52.
- FIG. 8 is a side sectional view showing the shutter mechanism at the time of shipment of the toner container
- FIGS. 9A and 9B are side sectional views showing a change in the shape of the cover member as the shutter cylinder rotates.
- the discharge port 63 of the shutter cylinder 57 is retracted from the supply port 52 of the duct portion 51 as shown in FIG. Further, the cover member 59 is maintained in a state in which the distal end portion 73 b is sandwiched between the seal member 58 and the duct portion 51 and is curved along the inner peripheral surface of the duct portion 51.
- the shutter mechanism 42 When the shutter mechanism 42 is opened and closed when the toner container 10 is attached / detached, the shutter cylinder 57 rotates counterclockwise (closed direction) from the open position shown in FIG. 5 to the closed position shown in FIG. It rotates clockwise (opening direction) from the closed position to the open position.
- the rotation range of the shutter mechanism 42 is regulated by the lever 39.
- the shutter cylinder 57 When the toner is first discharged from the toner container 10 from the time of shipment, the shutter cylinder 57 is rotated in the clockwise direction in FIG. 8 so as to go to the open position shown in FIG. In the open position shown in FIG. 5, the discharge port 63 of the shutter cylinder 57 communicates with the replenishment port 52, and the toner is discharged from the discharge port 63 through the replenishment port 52 to the relay conveyance path 91. It is conveyed and supplied from the supply port of the developing device 15.
- the cover member 59 is retracted from the replenishing port 52, and the distal end portion 73b of the extending portion 73 is sandwiched between the seal member 58 and the duct portion 51, and is curved in an arc shape along the inner peripheral surface of the duct portion 51. is doing.
- the distal end portion 73 b of the extending portion 73 of the cover member 59 is along the inner peripheral surface of the duct portion 51 while being sandwiched between the seal member 58 and the duct portion 51. And slide.
- the discharge port 63 is retracted from the supply port 52, and the supply port 52 is closed by the outer peripheral wall of the shutter cylinder 57 to discharge the toner from the container body 41. Is regulated. Since the extending portion 73 of the cover member 59 is provided on the front side in the closing direction with respect to the discharge port 63 of the shutter cylinder 57, the discharge port 63 is retracted from the supply port 52, and the seal member 58 is further refilled. After evacuating from, the supply port 52 is reached.
- the leading end 73b of the extending portion 73 When the leading end 73b of the extending portion 73 reaches the replenishing port 52, as shown in FIG. 9A, it is opened into a shape extending linearly in the tangential direction of the outer peripheral wall of the shutter cylinder 57.
- the tip 73b enters the supply port 52 and moves in the supply port 52, and the inner surface of the tip 73b eventually becomes the supply port. 52 is brought into contact with the edge 52a on the downstream side in the closing direction from below.
- the distal end portion 73b is deformed so as to be in contact with the edge portion 52a and warped outward, and is pressed against the edge portion 52a by an elastic force.
- the distal end portion 73 b of the extending portion 73 is plastically deformed into an arc shape along the inner peripheral surface of the duct portion 51. There is also. In this case, as shown in FIG. 10, the tip 73b covers the edge 52a of the supply port 52 from below.
- the toner container 10 was filled with toner, the toner container 10 was shaken to stir the toner, and then mounted on the mounting portion 11. After the mounting, in the shutter mechanism 42 of the toner container 10, the shutter cylinder 57 is rotated between the open position and the closed position, and then the toner container 10 is removed from the mounting portion 11. After the attachment and removal were repeated three times, the supply port 52 of the toner container 10 was cleaned with a vacuum cleaner. The three installations, removals and cleanings were performed as one operation, and this operation was repeated a predetermined number of times.
- the front end portion 73b of the cover member 59 abuts on the edge portion 52a on the downstream side in the closing direction of the replenishing port 52, and the edge portion 52a.
- the toner adhering to is held between the front end portion 73b and the edge portion 52a. Therefore, the toner accumulated on the edge portion 52a can be prevented from dropping, and toner contamination due to the toner falling can be prevented. Note that the toner adhering to the edge portion 52a falls from the replenishing port 52 every time the shutter mechanism 42 is opened.
- the shutter cylinder 57 When removing the toner container 10 from the mounting portion 11, the shutter cylinder 57 is rotated to the closed position, and the edge portion 52 b is covered with the tip end portion 73 b of the cover member 59. It is possible to prevent the adhering toner from falling onto a desk or the like when placed in a desk or the like.
- the cover member 59 is provided on the shutter cylinder 57 so as to extend in the tangential direction of the shutter cylinder 57 from the upstream side in the closing direction with respect to the discharge port 63, the cover member 59 is rotated in the closing direction of the shutter cylinder 57.
- the tip end portion 73b of the extension portion 73 automatically returns to extend into the supply port 52 and can come into contact with the edge portion 52a.
- seal member 58 and the cover member 59 are integrally formed, the attachment to the shutter cylinder 57 is facilitated. In addition, by integrally forming in this way, it can be retrofitted to a shutter mechanism of an existing image forming apparatus.
- the cover member 59 has the base portion 71 and the extension portion 73 folded back 180 ° at the perforations 72, when the base portion 71 is attached to the shutter cylinder 57, the extension portion 73 is removed from the shutter cylinder 57.
- the outlet 63 automatically extends in the tangential direction from the upstream side in the closing direction. Further, since the extending portion 73 and the base portion 71 are bonded by the bonding portion 73 a, the extending portion 73 is maintained in a posture extending linearly in the tangential direction of the shutter cylinder 57.
- the extension part 73 contacts the edge part 52a of the replenishing port 52, the extension part 73 is deformed so as to warp outward, and a strong force is applied to the edge part 52a by the elastic force of the cover member 59.
- the adhered toner can be reliably held by the extending portion 73.
- the cover member 59 has the distal end portion 73 b of the extending portion 73 curved in an arc shape along the inner peripheral surface of the duct portion 51. If the cover member 59 is left in such a posture for a long time, the tip 73b may be plastically deformed into an arcuate curved posture. In the case of such an arc shape, as shown in FIG. 10, the tip 73b abuts on the edge 52a and wraps around the lower side of the edge 52a. Can do.
- the toner contamination is compared between the case where the front end portion 73b of the cover member 59 is linear and the case where it is arcuate, it is obtained that the arcuate case is more effective in reducing toner contamination.
- tip part 73b may originally have the shape curved in the circular arc shape.
- the configuration of the present invention is applied to the color printer 1 .
- an image forming apparatus other than the color printer 1 such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a multifunction machine.
- the configuration of the present invention may be applied to.
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Abstract
Description
Claims (9)
- トナーの補給口を有すると共にトナーを収容する容器本体と、前記補給口を開閉するシャッター機構と、を備えるトナー容器であって、
前記シャッター機構は、
前記補給口に対応する排出口を有するシャッター部材と、該シャッター部材に支持されて前記補給口の方向に延出するカバー部材と、を有し、
前記シャッター部材は、該排出口が前記補給口に連通して該補給口を開放する開放位置と、前記排出口が前記補給口から退避して該補給口を閉止する閉止位置と、の間を、前記閉止位置から前記開放位置に向かう開放方向と、該開放方向と反対に前記開放位置から前記閉止位置に向かう閉止方向と、に移動するように設けられており、
前記カバー部材は、
前記シャッター部材の前記開放位置から前記閉止方向への移動に伴って前記補給口へ向けて突出し、前記閉止位置においては、前記補給口における前記閉止方向下流側の縁部に当接し、
前記シャッター部材の前記開放方向への移動に伴って前記補給口から退避する先端部を有するように構成されているトナー容器。 - 前記補給口は、前記容器本体に突設された円筒状のダクト部に形成され、
前記シャッター部材は円筒状の形状を有し、前記ダクト部に、該ダクト部の内周面に沿って前記開放位置と前記閉止位置との間を回動可能に内嵌されており、
前記カバー部材は、弾性変形可能なシート状の材料で形成されており、
先端に前記先端部が形成され、前記排出口よりも前記閉止方向における上流側から下流側に向けて、前記シャッター部材の外周面から離間するように延出する延出部と、
前記閉止方向において前記排出口よりも上流側で前記シャッター部材の外周面に支持されるベース部と、を有し、
前記延出部は、
前記開放位置においては、前記シャッター部材の外周面と前記ダクト部の内周面との間に弾性変形した状態で収容され、
前記閉止位置においては、前記補給口内で前記シャッター部材の外周面から離間して前記補給口内に突出する形状に開放される請求項1に記載のトナー容器。 - 前記シャッター機構は、
前記シャッター部材の前記排出口の周囲に支持されて、前記ダクト部との間に介装されるシール部材をさらに有し、
前記カバー部材は、前記シール部材と一体に設けられている請求項2に記載のトナー容器。 - 前記カバー部材は、前記延出部を前記ベース部に対して折り返す折り返し部を有し、
前記ベース部は、一方の面に前記シール部材の一方の面が支持され、他方の面が前記シャッター部材の外周面に支持され、
前記延出部は、前記先端部が前記シール部材の他方の面に重なるように延出している請求項3に記載のトナー容器。 - 前記カバー部材は、前記折り返し部で折り返された前記延出部の基端部が前記ベース部に接着されている請求項4に記載のトナー容器。
- 前記シール部材は所定の厚さを有し、
前記カバー部材の前記延出部の前記先端部は、前記シール部材と前記ダクト部との間に挟持されて該ダクト部の内周面に沿った湾曲形状を有している請求項4に記載のトナー容器。 - 前記排出口は、前記シャッター部材の円周方向と直交する軸方向における幅が前記補給口の幅よりも広く形成されており、
前記カバー部材において、前記ベース部は前記排出口に対応する開口を有し、前記先端部は前記補給口の幅と同程度の幅を有し、前記延出部は、前記折り返し部から前記先端部に向かって幅が狭くなるように形成されている請求項4に記載のトナー容器。 - 前記補給口の前記閉止方向下流側の縁部は、前記補給口の内側から外側に向かって前記閉止方向下流側に傾斜する傾斜面を有している請求項1に記載のトナー容器。
- 請求項1に記載のトナー容器を備える画像形成装置。
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