JPH0626914Y2 - Toner supply device - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device, and more specifically to improving a toner replenishing device for supplying toner to a developing device in, for example, an electronic copying machine or a printer. It is related.

[Prior Art] In a general electronic copying machine, an image is formed on an image carrier through each process of forming, developing, transferring and fixing an electrostatic latent image. As a developing device of such an electronic copying machine, there is known one in which development is carried out by a magnetic brush developing method using toner. For example, as shown in FIG. A developing roll c facing the image carrier b is provided, and a toner stirring / supply wheel e is provided at the back of the developing roll c in which an excessive amount of toner is regulated by the regulation plate d, and stirring / feeding is performed. On the upper side of the supply wheel e, a toner box f having a toner conveying means g for automatically replenishing the toner consumed in the developing process is provided.

In the developing device equipped with such a toner replenishing device, it is necessary to store a certain amount of toner in the toner box f, so that the capacity in the toner box f cannot help being increased to some extent. It is necessary to secure a large space above a, which inevitably increases the height of the copying machine body.

Therefore, in order to eliminate the above-mentioned defects, conventionally, as shown in FIG. 10, a toner box f is provided outside the upper part of the developing device main body a, and a space occupied by the toner box f is provided above the developing device main body a. The toner is removed, and toner is dropped into the replenishing pipe h extending from the developing device main body a by the toner conveying means g disposed below the toner box f, and another toner is conveyed in the replenishing pipe h. Means i
In the structure, the toner is replenished into the developing device main body a from the outside.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, even in the conventional toner replenishing device, since the toner box f is disposed outside the developing device main body a,
Inconvenience that the space secured in the upper part of the developing device main body a cannot be put in or out from the outside from the outside, so that the space above the developing device main body a cannot be effectively used. was there.

[Means for Solving the Problems] This invention was made in order to solve the above problems, and in order to solve the above technical problems, a toner box can be brought into contact with and separated from a developing device main body. To provide a toner replenishing device, characterized in that the toner box is separated from the developing device main body as necessary so that the space formed in the upper part of the developing device main body can be effectively used. To do.

That is, the present invention is arranged in the vicinity of the developing device main body 10 and is provided with a toner box 20 rotatably attached to the developing device main body 10 around its one end 21.
First toner conveying means for conveying toner into the developing device body 10 on the toner box side of the developing device body 10.
12 and 14 are provided in a protruding manner, a toner supply port 16 is opened in the protruding portion of the first toner conveying means 12 and 14, and the first toner conveying means 12 is provided in the bottom portion of the toner box 20. The second toner transporting means 22 and 24 are provided in a cylindrical shape so as to be joined to the first toner transporting means 14, and the protrusion 24 of the second toner transporting means is provided with the toner supply port 16 of the first toner transporting means. Toner supply port that communicates 26
And the toner contained in the toner box 20 is conveyed by the second toner conveying means 22 and 24, and the first toner conveying means 12 is also conveyed through the toner supply port 16 communicating with the toner supply port 26. , 14 and the first toner conveying means 1
In a toner replenishing device for replenishing toner into the developing device main body 10 by means of 2 and 14, a cylindrical protrusion 24 of the second toner carrying means is provided with an opening 32 for opening and closing a toner replenishing port 26. The opening / closing member 30 is coaxially arranged so as to come into contact with either the inner circumference or the outer circumference of the cylindrical projecting portion 24, and the first toner conveying means 14 is provided with an engaging portion 44. The toner box 20 is attached to the opening / closing member 30 by the developing device main body.
At the time of a rotating operation for moving the toner box to a non-operating position separated from 10, the engaging portion 44 of the first toner conveying means 14 is engaged, and the opening / closing member 30 is moved in accordance with the rotating operation of the toner box 20. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner replenishing device characterized in that an engaging portion 36a for closing the toner replenishing port 26 by rotating in a direction opposite to the moving direction of 20 is provided.

In the present invention, the first and second toner conveying means may be any means as long as they convey toner to a predetermined place, but it is preferable to form them by an auger or the like. Further, the toner replenishing port of the toner box may be provided at an appropriate position on the bottom portion or the lower side of the toner box. It is preferable to provide an opening / closing member for opening / closing. In this case, the opening / closing member may be any member as long as it opens and closes the toner supply port according to the contacting / separating operation of the toner box, but it is preferable that the developing device main body side is connected with the contacting / separating operation of the toner box. It is better to form it by a cylindrical member that slides or rotates by engaging with the guide means provided on the. On the other hand, when the toner replenishing port is provided on the lower side of the toner box, it is preferable to provide a paddle shaft or a blade shaft for positively replenishing toner coaxially with the auger that constitutes the second conveying means. .

[Operation] The above technical means operates as follows.

By pivotally supporting the toner box on the outside of the developing device main body so that the toner box can come in contact with and separate from the developing device main body, the toner box can be separated from the developing device main body as needed, and a space above the developing device main body can be provided. It can be used effectively from the outside.

In the toner replenishing device of the present invention, the toner box is provided with an opening / closing member which can open and close the toner replenishing port by rotating around the second toner conveying means along the circumferential direction of the second toner conveying means. Since it is configured to be provided, the opening / closing member may be provided so as to rotate around the second toner transporting unit along the circumferential direction, so that the installation space of the opening / closing member can be small and the toner can be reliably supplied. You can open and close your mouth.

Further, the toner replenishing device of the present invention comprises an opening / closing member and a first
In the vicinity of the toner supply port of the toner transport means, the opening / closing member is relatively engaged to move the opening / closing member in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the toner box in accordance with the rotating operation of moving the toner box to the non-operating position. Since the engaging portion that closes the toner replenishing port of the toner box is provided, the toner replenishing port of the toner box and the first toner conveying unit are accompanied by the rotation operation for moving the toner box to the non-operating position. Even when the relative position of the toner supply port of the toner box is sequentially displaced, the opening / closing member rotates in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the toner box to close the toner replenishing port of the toner box. It is possible to reliably prevent the toner from leaking to the outside from the supply port.

[Embodiment] An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a cross section of a main part of a reference example of a toner replenishing device of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a bottom view thereof. The toner replenishing device of the present invention is disposed in a developing device main body 10. A first auger 12 which is a first toner carrying means for carrying the toner to a developing roll (not shown), and a second auger means which is a second toner carrying means for carrying the toner at the bottom of the toner box 20 for containing the toner. In this case, the toner box 20 is supported outside the developing device main body 10 by a pivot shaft 21 so that the toner box 20 can come into contact with and separate from the developing device main body 10. Is rotatably arranged in the horizontal direction. Further, the bottom portion of the cylindrical guide portion 24 in which the second auger 22 is arranged in the bottom portion of the toner box 20 is provided above the guide cylinder 14 of the first auger 12 extending outward from the developing device main body 10. A toner supply port 26 that can communicate with the toner supply port 16 is formed. 1 and 2
In the figure, reference numeral 28 is a drive motor for the second auger 22.

In this case, as shown in FIG. 3, a bottomed tubular opening / closing having an opening 32 matching the toner supply port 26 and a bottom portion 34 penetrating the second auger shaft 23 is provided on the outer side of the tubular guide portion 24. A member 30 is slidably fitted, and a coil spring 27 is contracted between a bottom portion 34 of the opening / closing member 30 and a flange 25 mounted on the second auger shaft 23 in the opening / closing member 30. . Also,
A protrusion 36 is provided on a lower portion of the opening / closing member 30 opposite to the bottom portion 34, and the protrusion 36 is provided on the guide tube 14 of the first auger 12.
On the upper surface side of the projecting end portion, it is possible to engage with an inclined cam surface 42 which is a guide means formed so as to widen toward the developing device main body side. With this configuration, the toner replenishing port 26 is always closed by the opening / closing member 30 by the elastic force of the coil spring 27, but it is projected when the toner box 20 moves toward the developing device body 10 side. 36 and the cam surface 42 are engaged with each other, the opening / closing member 30 moves against the elastic force of the coil spring 27, the toner supply port 26 is opened, and the toner supply port 26 and the toner supply port 16 are separated from each other. The communication is established (see FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b)). On the contrary, when the toner box 20 moves in the direction away from the developing device main body 10 side, the engagement between the protrusion 36 and the cam surface 42 is released, and the elastic force of the coil spring 27 opens and closes the toner supply port 26 again. Toner box 20 closed by member 30
The toner inside is prevented from falling (4th
See FIG. (C)). Since the opening / closing member 30 slides on the upper surface of the cam plate 40 having the cam surface 42 by the engagement of the projection 36 and the cam surface 42, a sliding flat portion 38 is formed in the lower portion of the opening / closing member 30. A gap is prevented from occurring when the toner supply port 26 and the toner supply port 16 communicate with each other (see FIG. 3).

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the first embodiment of the present invention, in which the opening / closing member is rotated to open / close the toner supply port 26. That is, the toner box
A cylindrical opening / closing member 30a having an opening 32 for opening / closing the toner replenishing port 26 is rotatably fitted to the outer periphery of a cylindrical guide portion 24 formed on the bottom of 20 and is constantly operated by elastic force of a spring (not shown). The toner supply port 26 should be closed, and
A protrusion 36a is provided on a part of the outside of the opening / closing member 30a so that the protrusion 36a
This is a case where 36a is formed so as to be able to engage with the cam portion 44 provided on the developing device main body 10 side. With this configuration, the protrusion 36a and the cam portion 44 are engaged / disengaged with the contact / separation operation of the toner box 20 with respect to the developing device main body 10, and the opening / closing of the toner supply port 26 and the toner supply port are performed as described above.
The communication between the toner supply port 26 and the toner supply port 16 is blocked.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show a second embodiment of the present invention. When the opening / closing member is rotated to open / close the toner supply port 26, the toner supply port 26 and the toner supply port 16 are communicated with each other. This is the case when the gap is prevented. That is,
A tubular opening / closing member is provided on the inner peripheral side of the tubular guide portion 24 of the second auger 22.
While the 30b is rotatably fitted, a fan-shaped tooth portion 36b is formed on the outer periphery of the end portion side of the opening / closing member 30b protruding from the tubular guide portion 24, and is formed on the upper surface of the tip end side of the guide tube 14 of the first auger 12. This is a case where the flat guide portion 18 is provided and the rack portion 44a that meshes with the fan-shaped tooth portion 36b is formed on the upper surface of the flat guide portion 18. With this configuration, the fan-shaped teeth portion 36b is engaged with and disengaged from the rack portion 44a along with the contacting / separating operation of the toner box 20 with respect to the developing device main body 10, and the opening / closing of the toner supply port 26 and the toner are performed in the same manner as described above. The supply port 26 and the toner supply port 16 are connected and disconnected. A flat portion 29, which is in sliding contact with the flat guide portion 18, is formed in the lower portion of the cylindrical guide portion 24 to prevent a gap from being generated when the toner supply port 26 and the toner supply port 16 communicate with each other.

In the second embodiment, the fan-shaped tooth portion 36b is replaced with a protrusion 36a similar to that in the second embodiment, and the rack portion 44a is used.
Instead of the above, the same effect can be obtained with the cam portion 44.

[Advantages of the Invention] As described above, according to the toner replenishing device of the present invention, the toner replenishing device is arranged in the vicinity of the developing device main body, and is rotated in a direction in which the one end of the toner replenishing device comes in contact with and separates from the developing device main body. Since the toner box is movably attached, the toner box can be separated from the main body of the developing device as needed, and the space above the main body of the developing device can be effectively used to prevent Since the effect that the device and the component parts can be taken in and out can be obtained, its utility value is remarkable.

Further, in the toner replenishing device of the present invention, a cylindrical opening / closing member having an opening for opening and closing the toner replenishing port is formed in the cylindrical protruding portion of the second toner conveying means, and an inner circumference of the cylindrical protruding portion is provided. Since the opening / closing member is arranged coaxially so as to come into contact with either one of the outer circumferences, the opening / closing member is coaxially arranged on either the inner circumference or the outer circumference of the cylindrical protrusion of the second toner conveying means. It is sufficient that the opening / closing member does not project to the outside of the second toner conveying unit, so that the mounting space for the opening / closing member is small and the toner supply port can be opened / closed reliably.

Further, in the toner replenishing device of the present invention, the first toner carrying means is provided with the engaging portion, and the opening / closing member is moved at the time of the rotating operation for moving the toner box to the non-operating position separated from the developing device main body. An engaging portion that engages with the engaging portion of the first toner conveying means and rotates the opening / closing member in a direction opposite to the moving direction of the toner box in accordance with the rotating operation of the toner box to close the toner supply port. Since the toner box is provided, the relative position between the toner supply port of the toner box and the toner supply port of the first toner conveying means is sequentially set in accordance with the rotation operation for moving the toner box to the non-operating position. Even if the opening / closing position shifts, the opening / closing member rotates in the direction opposite to the moving direction of the toner box to close the toner supply port of the toner box, so that the toner leaks from the toner supply port of the toner box to the outside. It is possible to prevent the reliability.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side view showing a cross section of a main part of a reference example of a toner replenishing device of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a bottom view of FIG. 1 showing a cross section of the main part, and FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the main part of the reference example. Perspective view, FIG. 4 (a)
(C) is an explanatory view showing an operation mode of the reference example, FIG. 5 is a side view showing a cross section of a main part of the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. FIG. 7 is a side view showing a cross section of the main part of a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a side view of FIG.
VIII-VIII sectional view, FIG. 9 is a sectional view showing a conventional toner replenishing device, and FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing another conventional toner replenishing device. Reference numeral (10) …… Developing device main body (12) …… First auger (first toner conveying means) (14) …… Guide tube (16) …… Toner supply port (20) …… Toner box ( 21) ...... Pivot (22) ...... Second auger (second toner conveying means) (24) ...... Cylindrical guide (26) ...... Toner supply port (27) ...... Coil spring (30) , 30a, 30b) …… Opening / closing member (32) …… Opening (36,36a) …… Projection (40) …… Cam plate (42) …… Inclined cam surface (44) …… Cam section

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A toner box 20 is provided in the vicinity of a developing device main body 10 and is rotatably mounted in a direction toward and away from the developing device main body 10 about one end 21 thereof. On the toner box side of the apparatus main body 10, first toner conveying means for conveying toner into the developing apparatus main body 10
12 and 14 are provided in a protruding manner, a toner supply port 16 is opened in the protruding portion of the first toner conveying means 12 and 14, and the first toner conveying means 12 is provided in the bottom portion of the toner box 20. The second toner transporting means 22 and 24 are provided in a cylindrical shape so as to be joined to the first toner transporting means 14, and the protrusion 24 of the second toner transporting means is provided with the toner supply port 16 of the first toner transporting means. Toner supply port that communicates 26
And the toner contained in the toner box 20 is conveyed by the second toner conveying means 22 and 24, and the first toner conveying means 12 is also conveyed through the toner supply port 16 communicating with the toner supply port 26. , 14 and the first toner conveying means 1
In a toner replenishing device for replenishing toner into the developing device main body 10 by means of 2 and 14, a cylindrical protrusion 24 of the second toner carrying means is provided with an opening 32 for opening and closing a toner replenishing port 26. The opening / closing member 30 is coaxially arranged so as to come into contact with either the inner circumference or the outer circumference of the cylindrical protruding portion 24, and the first toner conveying means 14 is provided with an engaging portion 44. The toner box 20 is attached to the opening / closing member 30 by the developing device main body.
At the time of a rotating operation for moving the toner box to a non-operating position separated from 10, the engaging portion 44 of the first toner conveying means 14 is engaged, and the opening / closing member 30 is moved in accordance with the rotating operation of the toner box 20. A toner replenishing device, characterized in that an engaging portion (36a) for closing the toner replenishing port (26) by rotating in a direction opposite to the moving direction of (20) is provided.