JPH0216366Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] The present invention relates to a toner supply device for an electrophotographic copying machine or the like.

As is well known, in conventional toner replenishment devices, replenishment toner is stored in an inner and outer dual-tube case each having a slot for toner outlet formed in a part of the peripheral wall, and the same case is attached to the replenishment hopper. There is also known a device in which toner is taken out by rotating an inner case relative to an outer case. However, with a toner case having such a structure, when the toner case is pulled out from the supply hopper after toner has been loaded, the toner adhering to the opening of the slot of the toner case may spill out or stick to the user's hands. There are cases. Furthermore, in the toner case, if the inner cylinder case is carelessly rotated before being attached to the replenishment hopper, the stored toner may leak out and cause an unexpected accident.

The purpose of this invention is to prevent toner contamination accidents in toner replenishment devices as described above, and a sealing tape that can be partially peeled off is attached to the circumferential surface of the slot portion of the outer cylinder case. It is proposed that the sealing tape be attached and placed in the replenishment hopper with a part of the sealing tape peeled off, and after the toner is loaded, the outer cylindrical case is rotated and the sealing tape is reapplied using the pressure roller inside the replenishment hopper and taken out. It is something.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

Figure 1 shows the toner case used in the present invention.
This toner case A includes an outer case 1 molded into a cylindrical shape from a synthetic resin material, and an inner case 2 housed inside the outer case 1. Toner T is stored. That is, slots 3 and 4 serving as toner outlets are formed in the peripheral walls of these outer cylinder case 1 and inner cylinder case 2, respectively.
By aligning them as shown in the third figure, the stored replenishment toner T can be taken out. The end walls of the outer cylinder case 1 and the inner cylinder case 2 are provided with pawls 5 and a handle 6 for independently rotating them manually or automatically.

According to the present invention, a sealing tape 7 for closing the slot 3 is attached to the circumferential surface of the outer cylindrical case 1. As shown in FIG. 1, this sealing tape 7 is completely fixed on one side with a fixing glue, and the other part is coated with a pressure-sensitive glue that can be easily peeled off. Of course, pressure-sensitive glue may be applied to the outer case side. On the other hand, inside the replenishment hopper 8 to which the above-described toner case A can be attached, there is a pressure roller 9 that rolls into contact with the circumferential surface of the outer cylinder case 1 and a pressure roller 9 that engages with the circumferential surface protrusion 10 of the outer cylinder case 1. A locking surface 11 is located which prevents rotation in one direction.

Since the toner case of the present invention has the above-described structure, when the toner case A is not used, the slot 3 of the outer case 1 is closed with the sealing tape 7 as shown by the imaginary line in FIG. ing. Therefore, even if the inner cylinder case 2 is inadvertently rotated with respect to the outer cylinder case 1, the replenishment toner T will not suddenly flow out to the outside, and an unexpected accident can be prevented. Furthermore, in order to replenish toner, part of the sealing tape 7 is peeled off to open the slot 3.
If it is attached to the supply hopper 8 as shown in the second figure and the inner cylinder case 2 is rotated in the direction of arrow X, the slots 3 and 4 will match as shown in the third figure.
The stored replenishment toner T can be thrown into the replenishment hopper 8. After toner is added, when the outer case 1 is rotated in the direction of arrow Y, the sealing tape 7 is pressed by the pressure roller 9 as the outer case 1 rotates.
is attached to the circumferential surface of the outer cylinder case 1 and the slot 3 is blocked, so even if you pull the toner case A out of the supply hopper 8, your hands will get dirty with the toner stuck around the slot 3, and the toner case A will get dirty. This eliminates the inconvenience of toner remaining inside spilling around. Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 4, an auxiliary member 7a serving as a weight can be provided on the peeled end side of the sealing tape 7 to prevent the sealing tape 7 from curling. Furthermore, the pressing roller 9 does not necessarily need to rotate, and may be a rod-shaped member that presses the sealing tape against the case.

After all, according to the present invention, toner contamination accidents caused by careless handling of the toner case can be prevented, and toner replenishment can be done without residual toner scattering around or getting fingertips etc. dirty with toner adhering to the toner case. equipment can be provided.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a partially cutaway perspective view of the toner case used in the present invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the toner case when it is attached to the replenishment hopper, and Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 when toner is loaded. 4 are explanatory diagrams of a modification of the present invention. A...Toner case, T...Replenishment toner, 1
...Outer tube case, 2...Inner tube case, 3, 4...
Slot, 7... Sealing tape, 8... Supply hopper, 9... Press roller.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] In a toner replenishing device in which toner for replenishment is placed in an inner cylinder case of an inner and outer double cylinder case each having a slot as a toner outlet formed in a part of a peripheral wall, and the toner is dropped by aligning the slots. , a sealing member whose one end is fixed to a part of the outer cylinder case and whose other end is coated with glue to close the slot; and after peeling off one end of the sealing member and replenishing toner through the slot, A toner replenishing device comprising: a pressing member that rotates a cylindrical case and closes the slot with the sealing member.