JP2000081777A - Developer supply container - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: An object of the present invention is to provide a developer supply container that can supply developer by a simple operation and that does not scatter the developer when the developer is supplied. A toner hopper for supplying toner is connected to a developing device of a copying machine, and a toner cartridge is appropriately mounted on the toner hopper to supply new toner. A seal film f is attached to the toner discharge port of the toner cartridge, and a slide lid 6 is attached so as to cover the seal film f. Slits 11 and 12 through which the seal film f can be inserted are formed near both ends of the slide lid 6 in the sliding direction. One end of the seal film f affixed to the toner discharge port is folded back through the rear end of the slide cover 6 and inserted into the slit 11, and the gap between the inner surface 6a of the slide cover 6 and the seal portion f 'of the seal film f is formed. It is inserted into the slit 12 through the gap, folded back through the tip of the slide lid, and connected to the other end of the seal film f.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a developer supply container mounted on a copying machine for replenishing a developer used in a developing device of the copying machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, in a copying machine for copying an image of a document, an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the document image is formed on a photoreceptor, and toner as a developer is supplied to the electrostatic latent image. The image is visualized, and the toner image is transferred onto a sheet to output an image.
A developing device for supplying toner to the electrostatic latent image is connected to a toner hopper for supplying toner to the developing device.

In addition, a toner cartridge (developer supply container) containing new toner is appropriately mounted on the copying machine in order to supply the toner hopper with insufficient toner.
Conventional toner cartridges include a bottle portion containing toner, a flange portion provided at an opening of the bottle portion and having a toner discharge opening for discharging toner in the bottle portion, and a flange portion sealing the toner discharge opening. It has a band-shaped seal film attached thereto and a slide lid slidably attached to the flange portion so as to cover the seal film.

[0004] One end of the seal film attached to the flange portion is turned back to the outer surface side of the slide lid via the slide (opening) rear end portion of the slide lid, and a slit formed near this rear end is formed. The slide cover is interposed between the inner surface of the slide cover and the seal film attached to the flange portion, and is further stretched beyond the slide direction front end portion of the slide cover.

When the toner cartridge having the above configuration is mounted on a copying machine to supply toner, a flange portion of the toner cartridge is mounted on a supply port of a toner hopper, and a slide lid is slid in a direction to open the toner discharge port.
At this time, the seal film sealing the toner discharge port is peeled off partway with the slide of the slide lid, and the toner discharge port is opened partway. Further, in a state where the slide lid is opened, by pulling the tip of the seal film extending from the tip of the slide lid, the seal film that has been peeled off halfway is completely peeled off, and the toner discharge port is completely opened, The toner contained in the toner cartridge is supplied to the toner hopper. When the toner supply is completed, the slide lid returns to its original position,
The flange portion of the toner cartridge is detached from the supply port of the toner hopper.

[0006]

In the conventional toner cartridge described above, after the cartridge is mounted on the toner hopper, it is necessary to perform two operations such as sliding the slide lid and pulling the tip of the seal film.
It was troublesome. Also, since the operation needs to be performed twice, the user forgets to pull the seal film after opening the slide lid, so that the toner is replenished while the toner discharge port is only partially opened, and the toner is replenished. Could take a lot of time.

When the slide lid is slid and the seal film is pulled, the portion of the seal film that has blocked the toner discharge port of the flange portion is pulled out to a position facing the inner surface of the opened slide lid. Since the toner is exposed, the toner adhered to the seal film is undesirably scattered with the toner supply operation, and the vicinity of the supply port of the toner hopper is soiled, and the hands and clothes of the operator are stained. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has as its object to supply a developer by a simple operation and to prevent the developer from being undesirably scattered when the developer is supplied. It is to provide a container.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, a developer supply container according to the present invention comprises a container for storing a developer, and a belt-shaped member attached to the container to seal a developer outlet of the container. A seal member, a first surface facing the developer outlet via the seal member, and a second surface spaced from the developer outlet via the seal member, and a closure facing the developer outlet via the seal member. A position is provided between the closed position and an open position retracted along the longitudinal direction of the seal member from the closed position, and has a front end and a rear end along the moving direction from the closed position to the open position. A first slit extending in the direction crossing the moving direction near the rear end and communicating the first surface and the second surface; and the first surface extending in a direction crossing the moving direction near the tip end. And the second side A lid having a second slit, wherein one end of the seal member is inserted through the first slit from the second surface through a rear end of the lid, and the developer outlet is The second slit is inserted through the space between the sealed seal member and the first surface of the lid,
It is characterized in that it is connected to the other end of the seal member via the tip of the lid.

[0010]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an external perspective view of a toner cartridge 10 which is appropriately mounted on a toner hopper of a copying machine (not shown) as a developer supply container of the present invention.

The copying machine forms an electrostatic latent image on a photoreceptor,
The electrostatic latent image is supplied with toner and developed, and the developed toner image is transferred onto paper to output an image. To the developing device for supplying the toner to the electrostatic latent image is connected a toner hopper for supplying the toner so as to keep the toner concentration in the developing device constant. The toner cartridge 10 of the present invention is mounted on a slide lid of a hopper cover described later provided above the toner hopper.

As shown in FIG. 1, a toner cartridge 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention includes a bottle 2 containing toner t to be replenished and a flange 4 screwed into the mouth of the bottle 2. A cartridge body 1 having
In order to prevent the toner t contained in the bottle 2 from blowing out during transportation or the like, a flange 4 is formed to seal a toner discharge port (described later) formed in the flange 4 of the cartridge body 1.
And a slide lid 6 wrapped and held in the longitudinal direction of the seal film f and slidably attached to the flange 4 of the cartridge body 1. ing.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the slide lid 6 detached from the flange 4 of the cartridge body 1 as viewed from the inner surface 6a side. Here, the seal film f wound around the slide lid 6 is shown partially broken. A slide groove 6 slidable with respect to the flange 4 is provided at both ends on the inner surface 6 a side of the slide lid 6.
1, 61 are formed.

The slide lid 6 is, as shown in FIG.
A blocking position (solid line position) facing the toner discharge port 4a of the flange 4 via the sealing portion f 'of the sealing film f attached to the flange 4, and sliding from the blocking position in the longitudinal direction of the sealing film f. It is provided so as to be movable between an open position (a broken line position) retracted.
In other words, the slide lid 6 is connected to the toner discharge port 4a.
And a second direction (arrow b direction in the figure) for closing the toner discharge port 4a.
In both directions.

Near the front and rear ends of the slide lid 6 along the first direction, first and second slits 11, which extend in a direction crossing the slide direction and penetrate the slide lid 6, respectively. 12 are formed. The seal film f is inserted into these first and second slits 11 and 12. Further, an engagement projection (described later) provided on a slide lid (described later) of the hopper cover when the toner cartridge 10 is mounted on the hopper cover is provided on an outer surface 6b of the slide lid 6 facing a hopper cover (not shown). Engagement hole 13a engaged with
13b is formed.

As shown in FIG. 3, the sealing portion f 'of the sealing film f which seals the toner discharge port 4a of the flange 4 is shown.
From the outer surface 6b of the slide lid 6 through the rear end (left end in the figure) of the slide lid 6, and from the outer surface 6b side to the first slit 11. The slide cover 6 is inserted into the second slit 12 through the gap between the seal portion f 'of the seal film f and the inner surface 6a of the slide cover 6, and the distal end of the slide cover 6 from the outer surface 6b side of the slide cover 6 (right side in the figure). The end of the flange 4 which is folded back to the inner surface 6a side of the slide lid 6 through the end) and adheres the end of the seal portion f 'of the seal film f, is adhered to the end of the film. That is, the seal film f is wound around the slide lid 6 in a loop shape through the two slits 11 and 12 and is hardly exposed on the outer surface 6b side of the slide lid 6.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, a description will be given of a toner replenishing operation involving an opening and closing operation of the slide lid 6. FIG. The behavior of the toner t 'attached to the inside of the seal portion f' of the seal film f will be described at the same time.

That is, when the slide lid 6 is slid from the closed position shown in FIG. 3 in the direction of the arrow a in the figure and is moved to the open position shown in FIG. 4, the seal film adhered to the end of the flange 4 The seal portion f 'of f is peeled off, the toner discharge port 4a of the flange 4 is opened, and the toner t contained in the bottle 2 is discharged toward a toner hopper (not shown), and toner is supplied.

That is, as the slide lid 6 slides in the direction of the arrow a, the seal film f is pushed and spread by the tip of the slide lid 6, and the seal portion f ′ that blocks the toner discharge port 4 a and the inner surface 6 a of the slide lid 6. The seal film f interposed therebetween is gradually drawn out to the outer surface 6b side of the slide lid 6 through the second slit 12. Along with this, the seal film f folded at the rear end of the slide lid 6 is drawn in through the first slit 11, and is gradually peeled off from the seal portion f 'at the portion facing the rear end of the slide lid 6. . Then, with the slide lid 6 moved to the open position shown in FIG. 4, the seal portion f 'is almost peeled off, and the toner discharge port 4a is opened.

That is, in the present embodiment, the slide lid 6
The seal portion f 'of the seal film f can be peeled off from the flange 4 simply by sliding the toner discharge port 4a to the open position, and the toner discharge port 4a can be completely opened by one operation.

At this time, the toner t 'attached to the seal portion f' of the seal film f passes through the first slit 11 together with the seal film f, and as shown in FIG.
It is guided between the inner surface 6a of the slide lid 6 and the seal film f. That is, the toner t ′ attached to the seal portion f ′ of the seal film f is guided to the inner surface 6 a side of the slide lid 6 without falling onto the hopper cover of the toner hopper. This can prevent the toner t 'attached to the seal film f from being undesirably scattered, prevent the scattered toner from contaminating the hopper cover of the toner hopper, and stain the hands and clothes of the operator. Can also be prevented.

The slide lid 6 slid to the open position shown in FIG. 4 is slid in the direction of the arrow b in the figure and returned to the closed position shown in FIG. Then, the toner cartridge 10 is removed from the hopper cover while the toner discharge port is closed by the slide lid 6.

Next, a configuration for opening and closing the slide lid 6 of the toner cartridge 10 will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, two engagement holes 13a, 13b are formed on the outer surface 6b of the slide lid 6 of the toner cartridge 10.
Are formed. On the other hand, on an upper surface 22a of a slide lid 22 slidably provided on a hopper cover 21 provided on an upper portion of a toner hopper (not shown), engagement projections which can engage with the engagement holes 13a and 13b on the toner cartridge 10 side. 23a and 23b are protrudingly provided.

When the flange 4 of the toner cartridge 10 is mounted on the cartridge mounting portion 25 of the hopper cover 21, the engagement holes 13 on the toner cartridge 10 side are provided.
a, 13b and engaging projections 23a, 23b on the toner hopper side
Are engaged, so that the slide lid 22 of the hopper cover 21 and the slide lid 6 of the toner cartridge 10 can move integrally.

The cartridge mounting portion 25 includes a stopper 26 made of a plate screwed to the hopper cover 21 and stoppers 27 and 28 made of a pair of protrusions protruding from the hopper cover 21. Is formed.

When the toner cartridge 10 is mounted, as shown in FIG. 5, the toner cartridge 10 is mounted obliquely in the direction of arrow A and raised.
The flange 4 is mounted such that one edge of the flange 4 is hooked on the stopper 26.

In this state, the guide portions 62 on both sides of the slide lid 6 of the cartridge 10 are
The slide cover 6 cannot be disengaged upward because the slide stopper 6 is inserted under the stoppers 27 and 28 projecting from the slide cover 6.
Further, since the slide lid 6 and the flange 4 are attached so as to be embraced as shown in FIG. 5, they do not come off.
Therefore, in this state, the toner cartridge 10 is fixed to the hopper cover 21 via the slide lid 6.

At the time of toner replenishment, the handle 24 of the slide lid 22 provided on the hopper cover 21 is slid in the direction of arrow c in FIG.
And 2 integrated by the engagement projections 23a and 23b.
The two slide lids 6, 22 are opened. When the toner replenishment operation is completed, the handle 24 slides in the opposite direction, and the two slide lids 6 and 22 are closed. At this time, the seal film f returns to the initial state as the slide lid 6 on the cartridge 10 moves.

Finally, guide portions 6 on both sides of slide lid 6
2 and 62 come out from under the stoppers 27 and 28. Thus, the toner cartridge 10 can be removed.

Next, a toner cartridge 30 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. Note that the same components as those of the toner cartridge 10 according to the above-described first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted. FIG. 6 is an external perspective view of a toner cartridge 30 according to the second embodiment, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are cross-sectional views of the toner cartridge 30 near the toner discharge port 4a.

Slide lid 36 of toner cartridge 30
Is provided with a pair of rollers 31 and 32 around which a sealing film f is wound around the front and rear ends. Each roller 3
The reference numerals 1 and 32 are provided at both ends in the sliding direction of the slide lid 36 so as to be rotatable around a rotation axis extending in a direction crossing the sliding direction. And each roller 31, 3
2 are exposed to the slits 11 and 12 so as to define one side of the first and second slits 11 and 12.

That is, the seal film f folded at both ends of the slide lid 36 is applied to each of the rollers 31, 32.
It is in a state of being wrapped around the peripheral surface. According to the present embodiment, rollers 31 and 32 around which a seal film f is wound are provided at both ends in the sliding direction of the slide lid 36. Therefore, the same effects as in the first embodiment described above can be achieved, and the movement of the seal film f when opening and closing the slide lid 36 can be made smooth, and the load on opening and closing the slide lid 36 can be reduced. Can be.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of a main part of a toner cartridge 40 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 shows a view of the slide lid 46 of the toner cartridge 40 as viewed from the inside.

On the inner surface of the slide cover 46, four ribs 42 extending between the first and second slits 11 and 12 are protruded. Each of the ribs 42 extends along the sliding direction of the slide lid 46 and includes the first and second slits 1.
The seal film f, which is moved along the inner surface of the slide lid 46 through 1 and 12, is guided in sliding contact.

On the inner surface of the slide cover 46, a blade 44 extending in a direction crossing the slide direction of the slide cover 46 is provided in a protruding manner. The blade 44 scrapes off the toner t ′ attached to the seal film f guided along the plurality of ribs 42. That is, the seal portion f ′ of the seal film f that seals the toner discharge port in the state of FIG.
The toner t ′ attached to the seal portion f ′ is scraped off by the blade 44.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the inner surface of the slide lid 46 is provided with the four ribs 42 extending in the sliding direction and the blades 44 extending in the direction transverse to the sliding direction. . Therefore, the sealing film f is formed by the plurality of ribs 42 extending in the sliding direction.
Are guided, and the load applied to open and close the slide lid 46 is reduced. Further, the toner t 'attached to the seal film f is scraped off by the blade 44 extending in a direction transverse to the sliding direction, and the effect of preventing the toner from scattering is further increased.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view of a main part of a toner cartridge 50 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 shows a view of the slide lid 56 of the toner cartridge 50 as viewed from the inside.

On the inner surface of the slide lid 56, the third
Similarly to the slide lid 46 according to the embodiment, four ribs 42 and a blade 44 are protruded. Further, on the inner surface of the slide lid 56, a urethane foam 52 close to the first slit 11 side of the blade 44 is provided.

The urethane foam 52 is brought into sliding contact with the seal film f guided along the inner surface of the slide lid 56 by being guided by the rib 42, and scrapes off the toner t 'attached to the seal film f. Further, the urethane foam 52 collects the toner t ′ scraped off by the blade 44 together with the toner t ′ scraped off by the urethane foam 52.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the toner t 'adhered to the seal film f is scraped off on the inner surface of the slide lid 56, and the toner t'
A urethane foam 52 for recovering the water is provided. Therefore, the toner t 'scraped off by the urethane foam 52 can be collected, and toner scattering can be prevented. Also, when the slide lid 56 is returned to the original position, the toner t 'scraped off on the inner surface side of the slide lid 56 is collected by the urethane foam 52, so that the toner does not scatter.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but can be variously modified within the scope of the present invention. For example, the above-described embodiments may be appropriately combined with each other.
It is also possible to combine ribs extending in the sliding direction, blades extending in the direction transverse to the sliding direction, or urethane foam adjacent to the blades.

[0042]

As described above, the developer replenishing container of the present invention has the above-described structure and operation, so that the developer can be replenished by a simple operation. Can be prevented from being scattered.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is an external perspective view showing a toner cartridge according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a slide lid of the toner cartridge of FIG. 1 viewed from an inner surface side.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the toner cartridge showing a state in which a slide lid of FIG. 2 is closed.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a main part of the toner cartridge in a state where a slide lid in FIG. 2 is opened.

FIG. 5 is an operation explanatory diagram for explaining an operation of attaching the toner cartridge of FIG. 1 to a toner hopper.

FIG. 6 is an external perspective view showing a toner cartridge according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a main part of the toner cartridge of FIG. 6, showing a state where a slide lid is closed.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of a main part of the toner cartridge of FIG. 6 in a state where a slide lid is opened.

FIG. 9 is an essential part cross-sectional view showing a toner cartridge according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the slide lid of FIG. 9 as viewed from the inside.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view showing a main part of a toner cartridge according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the slide lid of FIG. 11 as viewed from the inside.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cartridge main body, 2 ... Bottle, 4 ... Flange, 4a ... Toner discharge port, 6, 36, 46, 56 ... Slide lid, 6a ... Inner surface, 6b ... Outer surface, 10, 30, 40, 50 ... Toner cartridge, 11 ... first slit, 12 ... second slit, 13a, 13b ... engaging hole, 21 ... hopper cover, 22 ... sliding lid, 23a, 23b ... engaging protrusion, 24 ... handle, 31, 32 ... roller, 42 ... Rib, 44 ... Blade, 52 ... Urethane foam, f ... Seal film, f '... Seal part, t, t' ... Toner.

Claims (1)

[Claims] An accommodating container for accommodating a developer; a band-shaped seal member attached to seal the developer outlet of the accommodating container; and a first member facing the developer outlet via the seal member.
A closed position facing the developer outlet via the seal member, and an open position retracted along the longitudinal direction of the seal member from the closed position, the closed position having a surface and a second surface separated from the developer outlet; And movably provided between,
A first slit having a front end and a rear end along a moving direction from the closed position to the open position, extending near the rear end in a direction crossing the moving direction, and communicating the first surface and the second surface; And a lid having a second slit extending in a direction transverse to the movement direction near the tip and communicating the first surface and the second surface, one end of the seal member is provided with one end of the lid. The second slit is inserted from the second surface side through the rear end, passes through the gap between the sealing member that seals the developer outlet and the first surface of the lid, and is inserted into the second slit. And a developer supply container connected to the other end of the seal member via a tip of the lid.