JP2001125353A - Developer cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To solve the following troubles; a developer cartridge functions only as a cover for covering the top of a developing device after putting the developer into the developing device in the first case of using the developer in the developing device, and also, volumetric occupancy for storing the developer is required for the developer cartridge, then, in the case of using the developer cartridge as the cover for the developing device, it is impossible to install another constitutional member near the developing device, and then, as to a space occupied by the developer cartridge, it becomes a waste of space in the image forming device. SOLUTION: A toner replenishing port 101 which communicates with the toner replenishing opening of a toner hopper for replenishing the toner so as to guide toner into the developing device 1 is arranged in the peripheral edge part of a developer inlet opening 102 formed in the bottom surface of a developer storing part, and the developer inlet opening 102 and the toner replenishing port 101 are hermetically sealed by sticking one sheet of sealing material 4 to them.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer cartridge for supplying a developer to a developing device used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a developing device used for an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile or the like has been widely used, various devices have been devised for simplifying maintenance work or protecting a use environment. Was.

In this developing device, it is necessary to supply the developer into the developing device when the developing device is used for the first time, and the developer is most commonly supplied to the developing device. The developer was manually injected from the bottle or aluminum bag, etc., into which the developer was stored. There is a risk that the developer may be spilled or scattered at the time of the introduction, and there is a problem that the surrounding environment is contaminated by the developer.

[0004] In view of such problems, in recent years, there has been a type which employs a developer cartridge which is mounted on a developing device and is used to charge the developing device with the developer.

[0005] As shown in FIG. 4, the developer cartridge is configured in the form of a cartridge 22 in which a container for storing the developer is detachable from the developing device 21, and after the developer cartridge 22 is mounted on the developing device 21. The developing device 2
1 was charged.

The developer cartridge 22 generally has a storage portion 22a for storing a developer to be charged into the development device 21 when the development device 21 is used for the first time, and is provided on a lower surface of the storage portion 22a. The developer opening 22b is sealed with a sheet-like sealing material 23 such as a synthetic resin or paper. After being mounted on the developing device 21, the sealing material 23 is peeled off, so that the inside of the housing portion 22a is removed. The developer is supplied to the developing device 21.

The developer cartridge 22 has been used as a lid for covering the upper surface of the developing device 21 even after the developer in the container 22a is charged.

[0008]

However, the above-mentioned developer cartridge has a cover for covering the upper surface of the developing device after the developer is charged into the developing device in the first case of using the developing device. In addition, since the developer cartridge requires an occupied volume for containing the developer, the use of the developer cartridge as the lid of the developing device is There is a problem that the constituent members cannot be arranged, and the space occupied by the developer cartridge is wasted space in the image forming apparatus.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in consideration of the above problems, and has as its object to provide a developer cartridge which does not cause useless space in an image forming apparatus provided with a developing device.

[0010]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention has a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be charged into a developing device, and has a lower surface of the developer accommodating portion. In a developer cartridge which is detachably attached to a developing device to which a sheet-like sealing material for sealing a formed developer input opening is attached, a toner hopper for supplying toner to the developing device is provided at a peripheral portion of the developer input opening. And a toner supply port which communicates with the toner supply opening for introducing the developer into the developing device.

According to the above configuration, since the toner supply port is provided at the peripheral portion of the developer supply opening of the developer cartridge, it is not necessary to provide a coupling portion between the toner supply port and the developer cartridge. There is no leakage of the developer, and the toner supply port can be provided near the stirring roller of the developing device. Therefore, the height when the toner supply opening of the toner hopper is located above the toner supply port The size in the direction can be suppressed, and the size of the developing device in which the developer cartridge is mounted can be reduced.

According to the present invention, the developer supply opening is formed so as to be located on the side of the developing roller of the developing device when the developing device is mounted on the developing device. They are arranged side by side on substantially the same horizontal plane as the openings.

According to the above construction, the space not used by the developing device, for example, the space above the stirring roller for stirring and mixing the developer and the toner can be effectively used, and the developing cartridge for mounting the developer cartridge can be effectively used. The device can be reduced in size.

The sealing material of the present invention seals the developer supply opening and the toner supply port.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to easily seal the developer supply opening and the toner supply port with one sealing material.

According to the present invention, a contact portion is provided above the developing roller of the developing device and in contact with the inner wall of the developing device.

According to the above arrangement, the space just before the toner spike by the developing roller of the developing device can be narrowed, the density of the developer conveyed to the developing roller can be stabilized, and the occurrence of shading of the image can be reduced. This can be prevented.

In the present invention, the gap between the contact portion and the developing roller of the developing device is set to 3 mm or more.

According to the above construction, the flow rate of the developer can be adjusted by the contact portion, and the excessive amount of the developer in the space immediately before the spike of the toner by the developing roller of the developing device is obtained. It is possible to prevent an increase in the density and prevent the developer from fusing due to an increase in the temperature of the developer due to an excessive developer density.

[0020]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a developing device equipped with a developer cartridge of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.

In the developing device of the present embodiment, the developer cartridge 1 is mounted on the device main body 2, and a sealant 4 described later is used to supply the developer 3 and a peripheral edge of the developer supply opening 102. The developing unit 2 is attached to the periphery of a toner supply port 101 serving as a toner supply port for supplying powder toner provided to the developing device 2 to the developing device 2. Agent injection opening 1
02 and the toner supply port 101 are sealed.

The developer cartridge 1 includes a developing device 2
The developing roller 2 is formed along the entire length of the magnet roller 5 in the axial direction, and is detachably attached to the developing device 2.

A developer supply opening 102 for supplying the developer of the developer cartridge 1 and a toner supply port 101 are provided.
Are sealed in a five-layer structure with a layer thickness of 3 from above.
0 μm 0PP (polypropylene), 5 μm thick adhesive, 15 μm 6-nylon, 5 μm thick adhesive, 70 μm thick LDRE made by Nippon Matai Co., Ltd. Polyethylene).

The leg 10 of the developer cartridge 1
The LDPE side of the sealing material 4 is brought into contact with the peripheral edge of the lower surface of the developer supply opening 102 and the toner supply port 101 of No. 3 and the LDPE is melted by heating the sealant 4 with a hot plate. The sealing material 4 is stuck so as not to leak the agent to the outside. At this time, the periphery of the toner supply port 101 is also sealed.

The sealing material 4 is not limited to the above-mentioned materials, but may be any resin film having a high tensile strength that does not interact with the developer 3.

Then, the developing device 2 having the developer cartridge 1 mounted therein is mounted in the image forming apparatus, and the sealing material 4 is peeled off when the developing device 2 is used for the first time, so that the developer 3 in the accommodating portion of the developer cartridge 1 is removed. Into the developing tank 8 of the developing device 2, the operation of the developing device 2 using a two-component developer described later is performed. However, during transportation or storage until the sealing material 4 is peeled off, Toner supply port 1
01 to prevent foreign matter from entering the inside of the developing device 2.

Then, the wall surface 104 of the developer cartridge 1 on the magnet roller 5 side and the leg 103 of the developer cartridge 1 are brought close to the magnet roller 5, and the developer 3
A waste space in the developing device 2 is utilized by disposing the developer supply opening 102 for supplying the developer under the spike restricting member 7 for restricting the spike of the developer 3 conveyed by the magnet roller 5. The size of the developing device 2 in the width direction can be reduced.

Further, the toner supply port 101 is connected to the side farther from the magnet roller 5, that is, the stirring roller 9 and 10 of the stirring rollers 9 and 10 arranged in parallel for conveying and stirring the toner to the magnet roller 5. The developing device 2 can be downsized in the height direction by arranging it above the agitating roller 10 arranged in a distant position on the substantially same horizontal plane as the developer charging opening 102.

Further, by forming the developer supply opening 102 and the toner supply port 101 side by side on substantially the same horizontal plane, a single sealant 4 is used to form the developer supply opening 1.
02 and the toner supply port 101 can be sealed at the same time, and it is possible to expose both the openings by performing the peeling operation of the sealing material 4 only once.

FIGS. 2 and 3 show a state in which the sealing material 4 is peeled off and the developer 3 is charged into the developing device 2.
After the developer 3 is charged into the developing device 2, the toner supply port 101 is inserted into the leg 103 of the developer cartridge 1.
Are formed integrally, there is no need to provide a joint between the developer cartridge 1 and the toner supply port 101, and there is no need for a member for preventing leakage of toner from such a joint. Leakage can be prevented.

Here, with reference to FIG. 2, the structure and operation of the developing device 2 using the two-component developer in which the developer cartridge 1 of the present invention is mounted will be described.

A magnet roller 5 and a stirring roller 9 for conveying or stirring the developer 3 are rotatably provided in a developing tank 8 having a container structure for storing the developer in the developing device 2.
A stirring roller 10 for stirring and mixing the toner 14 supplied from the toner supply roller 12 in the toner hopper 11 with the developer 3 and circulating and supplying the toner 14 to the stirring roller 9 is provided in parallel.

The magnet roller 5 has a cylindrical non-magnetic sleeve on the surface and a magnet having five magnetic poles provided in the non-magnetic sleeve. The magnetic pole N1 is fixed so as to be located at a developing position facing the photoconductor 6.

Then, the sleeve is rotated in the direction of the arrow,
The developer 3 is attracted and conveyed to the surface by the magnetic force of the magnet roller 5, and the developer 3 after development is collected in the developing tank 8.

Before the developer 3 adsorbed on the sleeve surface is transported to the developing position facing the photoreceptor 6, a part of the developer 3 is removed by the spike regulating member 7 so that the amount of adsorption is constant. Is done. The developer 3 that passes through the spike regulating member 7
Is regulated to a fixed amount adsorbed on the sleeve.

The stirring roller 9 is driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 2, and conveys the developer 3 in the developing tank 8 toward the magnet roller 5 and stirs.
On the magnet roller 5 side, the developer 3 is pumped up by the magnetic pole N2. The developer 3 is adsorbed on the surface of the rotating sleeve, and an excessive amount is removed by the spike restricting member 7 disposed between the magnetic pole S2 and the magnetic pole N1.

Then, the developer 3 reaches the position of the developing magnetic pole N1 with a predetermined amount of the developer 3 being attracted to the magnet roller 5. At this position, the developer 3 spikes like a brush,
The surface of the opposing photosensitive member 6 is rubbed. As a result, toner adheres according to the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photoconductor 6, and is developed as a toner image.

At this time, the developer 3 which does not contribute to the development is
Due to the rotation of the sleeve, the toner is collected into the developing tank 8 in cooperation with the magnetic pole S1.

Then, in the magnetic force relationship between the magnetic poles N3 and N2, the developer 3 separates from the sleeve, is taken into the lower side of the stirring roller 9, and is rotated by the rotational force.
To the underside of. The stirring roller 10 mixes and stirs the toner 14 supplied from the toner supply port 101 and the developer fed from the stirring roller 9, transfers the mixed toner 14 from above to the stirring roller 9 by rotational force, and prepares for the next development. After being sufficiently stirred, it is supplied to the magnet roller 5.

However, when the distance between the magnet roller 5 and the stirring roller 9 is too short, the magnet roller 5 is affected by the blades and screws of the stirring roller 9.
A difference in density occurs in the developer 3 supplied to the output image, and color shading occurs in the output image.

In the present embodiment, the wall 104 and the leg 10 of the developer cartridge 1 on the side of the magnet roller 5
3 is brought close to the magnet roller 5, the magnet roller 5, the spike restricting member 7, and the wall surface 1 of the developer cartridge 1.
The developer 4 conveyed by the magnetic pole S2 of the magnet roller 5 is fed into a space surrounded by the magnetic head 04 and the leg 103, and the pressure of the developer 3 in this space is increased to eliminate the density difference of the developer 3. I will.

When the amount of the developer 3 immersed in the stirring roller 9 decreases due to a decrease in the amount of the developer 3 inserted or a decrease in the toner concentration in the developer 3, the blades of the stirring roller 9 The amount of the developer 3 supplied to the magnet roller by a screw or the like becomes non-uniform, causing a difference in density, resulting in color shading of an output image.

Further, in another embodiment of the present invention, as shown in FIG. 3, a developer flow rate adjusting member 105 extending in the longitudinal direction of the wall surface 104 of the developer cartridge 1 on the magnet roller 5 side is formed, Agent flow rate adjusting member 10
The gap between the magnet roller 5 and the magnet roller 5 is dmm.

The magnet roller 5, the spike restricting member 7,
The developer 3 conveyed by the magnetic pole S2 of the magnet roller 5 is fed into a space surrounded by the developer flow rate adjusting member 105, the wall surface 104 of the developer cartridge 1, and the leg 103, and the developing in this space is performed. By increasing the pressure of the developer 3, the difference in the density of the developer 3 is eliminated.

If the gap d between the end portion of the developer flow rate adjusting member 105 and the magnet 5 is reduced, this space becomes narrower, and the amount of the developer 3 can be reduced.
An inexpensive developing device 2 can be provided. However, if this space is too narrow, the pressure of the developer 3 becomes too high, causing a problem that the temperature rises and the developer 3 is fused, so the gap d is set to 3 mm or more. It is desirable.

[0046]

[Table 1] Table 1 shows the results of an experiment for obtaining an appropriate gap d as described above. In this experiment, the developing apparatus shown in FIG. 3 was used to set a high-temperature and high-humidity environment test chamber at 35 ° C. and 85% RH. A band chart with a solid area ratio of 2% was printed, and the temperature at the end of the spike regulating member 7 on the side of the magnet roller 5 and the fusion of the developer were confirmed 12 hours later. It can be seen that fusion occurred in the case of = 2 mm.

On the other hand, the toner density of the developer 3 in the developing device 2 is detected by a toner density detecting sensor 13 in the developing device 2, and a controller (not shown) is used based on the detection result of the toner density detecting sensor 13. ).

Here, when it is determined that the toner density in the developing device 2 is lower than the reference value, a toner supply motor (not shown) is driven, and the new toner 14 previously stored in the toner hopper 11 The rotation of the roller 15 and the toner supply roller 12 causes the toner hopper opening 1 to rotate.
6, and is supplied from the toner supply port 101. This toner supply operation is stopped when the toner concentration in the developing device 2 reaches the reference value due to the toner supply.

[0049]

According to the present invention, there is provided a sheet-like member having a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be charged into a developing device, and sealing a developer charging opening formed on the lower surface of the developer accommodating portion. In the developer cartridge having a sealing material attached and detachable from the developing device, the developer is communicated with a toner supply opening of a toner hopper for supplying toner to the developing device at a peripheral portion of the developer charging opening. Since the toner supply port that guides the toner supply port is provided, there is no need to provide a joint between the toner supply port and the developer cartridge, and no leakage of the developer occurs from the connection part. Since the toner supply opening can be provided near the upper portion of the stirring roller, the size in the height direction when the toner supply opening of the toner hopper is located above the toner supply opening can be suppressed.
The size of the developing device to which the developer cartridge is attached can be reduced.

According to the present invention, the developer supply opening is formed so as to be located on the developing roller side of the developing device when the developing device is mounted on the developing device. Since they are arranged in parallel on the substantially same horizontal plane as the opening, a space not used by the developing device, for example, a space above a stirring roller for stirring and mixing the developer and the toner can be effectively used. The size of the developing device in which the cartridge is mounted can be reduced.

Since the seal material of the present invention seals the developer supply opening and the toner supply port, it is possible to easily seal the developer supply opening and the toner supply port with one seal material. it can.

According to the present invention, since the contact portion is provided above the developing roller of the developing device and is in contact with the inner wall of the developing device, the space immediately before the toner is spiked by the developing roller of the developing device is reduced. Therefore, the density of the developer conveyed to the developing roller can be stabilized, and the occurrence of shading of the image can be prevented.

In the present invention, since the gap between the contact portion and the developing roller of the developing device is set to 3 mm or more, the flow rate of the developer can be adjusted by the contact portion.
To prevent an excessive rise in developer density in a space immediately before the toner is raised by a developing roller of a developing device, and to prevent the developer from being fused due to a rise in temperature of the developer due to an excessive developer density. Can be.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing an embodiment of a developing device equipped with a developer cartridge of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operation state in an embodiment in which a toner hopper is mounted on a developing device in which a developer cartridge of the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an operating state in another embodiment in which a toner hopper is mounted on a developing device in which a developer cartridge of the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating an embodiment of a developing device equipped with a conventional developer cartridge.

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 developer cartridge 2 developing device 3 developer 4 sealing material 5 magnet roller 6 photoreceptor 7 spike regulating member 8 developing tank 9 stirring roller 10 stirring roller 11 toner hopper 101 toner supply port 102 developer input opening 103 leg 104 wall surface 105 Abutment

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Hisashi Kunihiro 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Inside (72) Inventor Hiroshi Kubota 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka Inside Sharp Corporation (72) Inventor Kenichi Nagata 22-22 Nagaikecho, Abeno-ku, Osaka City, Osaka F-term (reference) 2H077 AA02 AA06 AA33 AA39 AD06 GA04

Claims (5)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus includes a developer accommodating portion for accommodating a developer to be charged into a developing device, and a sheet-like sealing material for sealing a developer charging opening formed on a lower surface of the developer accommodating portion. A developer cartridge detachably attached to the developing device attached to the developing device. A developer cartridge provided with a toner supply port leading into the inside. 2. The developer supply opening is formed so as to be located on the side of the developing roller of the developing device when the developing device is mounted on the developing device. 2. The developer cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the developer cartridges are arranged side by side on substantially the same horizontal plane. 3. The developer cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the seal member seals the developer supply opening and the toner supply port. 4. The developer cartridge according to claim 1, further comprising a contact portion located above the developing roller of the developing device and in contact with an inner wall of the developing device. 5. A gap between the contact portion and a developing roller of a developing device is set to 3 mm or more.
The developer cartridge according to claim 1.