JP2003184902A - Coupling member and cartridge employing the same - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent deformation from occurring on a portion holding elasticity of a coupling made of a synthetic resin even though the number of components are reduced and cost cut is achieved, and to provide a coupling member capable of preventing error working from occurring and a cartridge employing it. <P>SOLUTION: In the coupling member removably making it possible to transmit rotation driven force and connection driving side with driven side, the subject is solved by forming the coupling member in one of the coupling members arranged on the driven side by the synthetic resin and simultaneously in the coupling member on the driven side, by configuring to being integrally provided with a spring which makes it possible to elastically shift the coupling member on the driven side in thrust direction. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cartridge such as a toner cartridge used in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer or a facsimile which employs an electrophotographic system, and a coupling member used for the cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, and a facsimile which adopts this type of electrophotographic system, the surface of a photoconductor drum is uniformly charged to a predetermined potential and then the photoconductor is charged. Image exposure is performed on the surface of the drum to form an electrostatic latent image, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of the photosensitive drum is visualized by a developing device as a toner image, and the toner image is transferred onto a transfer sheet. By transferring and fixing to
It is configured to form an image.

In the above-mentioned image forming apparatus, the toner in the developing device is consumed as the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum is developed by the developing device. A toner replenishing device that replenishes at the timing of is provided. The toner replenishing device includes a toner cartridge containing the toner to be replenished, and is configured to appropriately replenish the toner from the toner cartridge to the developing device.

In the toner replenishing device, the toner contained in the toner cartridge is supplied into the toner replenishing device main body by rotationally driving the agitator provided in the toner cartridge, and the toner replenishing device is supplied. Toner is replenished to the developing device by a conveying means such as an auger provided inside the main body.

When the toner in the toner cartridge becomes empty, the toner replenishing device removes the used cartridge from the toner replenishing device body and mounts a new toner cartridge at a predetermined position of the toner replenishing device body. It has become.

In the toner replenishing device, when the toner cartridge is mounted, the coupling for rotatably driving the agitator provided in the toner cartridge is operatively connected to the coupling on the toner replenishing device main body side. There is a need to. These couplings allow the coupling on the toner supply device body side to move in the thrust direction by a spring so that the convex portions of the coupling do not interfere with each other when the toner cartridge is mounted on the toner supply device body. Has become.

[0007]

However, the above-mentioned prior art has the following problems. That is, in the case of the above-described conventional toner replenishing device, when the toner cartridge is attached to the toner replenishing device body, the coupling on the toner replenishing device body side is prevented in order to prevent the convex portions of the coupling from interfering with each other. However, it is movable by a spring in the thrust direction. for that reason,
In the case of the above-mentioned toner replenishing device, a component such as a spring other than the coupling is required as a component forming the coupling on the toner replenishing device main body side, and a plurality of components are required, resulting in high cost. Have a point.

Therefore, as a toner replenishing device that solves the above problems, reduces the number of parts, and enables cost reduction, a synthetic resin coupling is used instead of a spring, and a synthetic resin coupling is used. It is also conceivable that the coupling is integrally provided with a springy portion.

However, in this case, while the synthetic resin coupling is being used, fatigue occurs in the portion of the synthetic resin coupling having the spring property, and the toner cartridge is replaced. At this time, a new problem arises in that the coupling does not work well and a malfunction such as defective toner supply occurs.

Therefore, the present invention was made in order to solve the above-mentioned problems of the prior art. The object of the present invention is to reduce the number of parts and reduce the cost even if the synthetic resin is used. It is an object of the present invention to provide a coupling member capable of preventing the occurrence of a settling in a spring-provided portion of a manufactured coupling and a malfunction thereof, and a cartridge using the same.

[0011]

In order to solve the above problems, the invention described in claim 1 is a cup for connecting a driving side and a driven side so as to be detachable and capable of transmitting a rotational driving force. In the ring member, the coupling member disposed on the driven side of the coupling member is formed of synthetic resin, and the driven side coupling member is formed on the driven side coupling member. The coupling member is characterized in that a spring portion that elastically moves in the thrust direction is integrally provided.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cartridge, which is detachably connected to the driving side through a coupling member and is capable of transmitting the rotational driving force, the cartridge being disposed in the cartridge. The coupling member is made of synthetic resin, and the driven-side coupling member is integrally provided with a spring portion that elastically moves the driven-side coupling member in the thrust direction. It is a cartridge characterized by that.

[0013]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

Embodiment 1 FIG. 2 shows a tandem type digital color printer as an image forming apparatus to which a toner cartridge according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention and a toner replenishing device using the toner cartridge are applied. Further, FIG. 3 shows the first embodiment of the present invention.
2 shows a tandem type digital color copying machine as an image forming apparatus to which the toner cartridge according to the present invention is applied.

2 and 3, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a tandem type digital color printer and a copying machine. In the case of a digital color copying machine, as shown in FIG. , An automatic document feeder (ADF) 3 for automatically feeding the originals 2 one by one
And the document 2 conveyed by the automatic document conveying device 3
A document reading device 4 for reading the image is provided. The document reading device 4 illuminates a document 2 placed on a platen glass 5 with a light source 6, and reflects a reflected light image from the document 2 into a full rate mirror 7 and half rate mirrors 8 and 9.
And a CCD through a reduction optical system including the imaging lens 10.
Scanning exposure is performed on the image reading element 11 including the above, and the color material reflected light image of the original 2 is read by the image reading element 11 at a predetermined dot density (for example, 16 dots / mm).

The color material reflected light image of the document 2 read by the document reading device 4 is, for example, document reflectance data of three colors of red (R), green (G), and blue (B) (each 8 bits). As IPS (Image Processing)
System) 12, and in this IPS 12,
Shading correction for reflectance data of original 2
Predetermined image processing such as positional deviation correction, lightness / color space conversion, gamma correction, frame erasing, and color / movement editing is performed. The IPS 12 is also designed to perform predetermined image processing on image data sent from a personal computer or the like.

The image data that has been subjected to the predetermined image processing by the IPS 12 as described above is also subjected to the same IPS 12 as yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K) (each 8 bits). 4 color original reproduction color material gradation data, and as described below, image forming units 13Y and 13M for yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), respectively. 13C, 13K
ROS (Raser Output Scanne)
r) 14 and sent as ROS1 as the image exposure device
In 4, the image exposure by the laser beam LB is performed according to the document reproduction color material gradation data of a predetermined color.

By the way, inside the tandem type digital color printer and copying machine main body 1, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). ) Four image forming units 13
Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction at regular intervals.

These four image forming units 13Y,
All of 13M, 13C, and 13K have the same structure, and are roughly classified into a photosensitive drum 15 as an image carrier that is rotationally driven at a predetermined speed, and the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 is uniformly charged. A charging roll 16 for primary charging and an RO as an image exposure device that exposes an image corresponding to a predetermined color on the surface of the photoconductor drum 15 to form an electrostatic latent image.
S14, a developing device 17 for developing the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 15 with toner of a predetermined color, and a cleaning device 18 for cleaning the surface of the photosensitive drum 15.

The ROS 14 has four image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13 as shown in FIGS.
C and 13K are configured in common, and four semiconductor lasers (not shown) are modulated according to the original reproduction color material gradation data of each color, and the laser light LB- is emitted from these semiconductor lasers.
It is configured to emit Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K according to the gradation data. The above ROS1
Of course, 4 may be individually configured for each of the plurality of image forming units. Laser light LB emitted from the semiconductor laser
-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K are not shown f
The rotary polygon mirror 19 is irradiated with light through the −θ lens, and is deflected and scanned by the rotary polygon mirror 19. Laser beams LB-Y and LB- which are deflected and scanned by the rotary polygon mirror 19.
M, LB-C, and LB-K are scanned and exposed obliquely from below on the photoconductor drum 15 via a plurality of reflection mirrors (not shown).

As shown in FIG. 2, the ROS 14 scans and exposes an image on the photosensitive drum 15 from below. Therefore, the ROS 14 has four image forming units 13Y, 13M, There is a risk that toner or the like will fall from the developing devices 17 of 13C and 13K and be contaminated. Therefore, the ROS 14 is hermetically sealed by the frame 20 having a rectangular parallelepiped shape, and the four laser beams LB are provided above the frame 20.
-Y, LB-M, LB-C, and LB-K are exposed on the photosensitive drums 15 of the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K, so that a transparent glass window 21Y as a shield member, 21M, 21C, and 21K are provided. The glass windows 21Y, 21M, 21C, and 21K are members located at the highest position on the optical path along the laser beam LB of the ROS 14 as the image exposure device.

From the IPS 12, yellow (Y),
Image data of each color is sequentially output to the ROS 14 provided in common to the image forming units 13Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K of each color of magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K). Laser light LB-Y, LB-M, LB-C, LB-K emitted according to data
Is scanned and exposed on the surface of the corresponding photoconductor drum 15,
An electrostatic latent image is formed. The electrostatic latent images formed on the photosensitive drum 15 are the developing devices 17Y, 17M, 17C, 1
7K, toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) are developed.

The image forming units 13Y, 13M,
The toner images of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K), which are sequentially formed on the photoconductor drums 15 of 13C and 13K, are formed in the respective image forming units 13.
The primary transfer roll 26 multiple-transfers the image onto the intermediate transfer belt 25 arranged above Y, 13M, 13C, and 13K. The intermediate transfer belt 25 is wound around a drive roll 27 and a backup roll 28 with a constant tension, and is driven by a drive roll 27 rotated by a dedicated drive motor (not shown) having excellent constant speed. , Is circularly driven at a predetermined speed in the direction of the arrow. The intermediate transfer belt 25
For example, a synthetic resin film having flexibility such as PET is formed into a band shape, and both ends of the synthetic resin film formed into the band shape are connected by means such as welding to form an endless belt shape. Things are used.

Yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), which are transferred in multiple layers on the intermediate transfer belt 25,
The toner image of each color of black (K) is backed up by the backup roll 28.
The secondary transfer roll 29 that is pressed against the secondary transfer roller 30 is secondarily transferred onto the transfer sheet 30 by the pressing force and the electrostatic force, and the transfer sheet 30 onto which the toner images of the respective colors are transferred is transferred to the fixing device 31 located above. Be transported. The secondary transfer roll 29
Are pressed against the side of the backup roll 28, and secondarily transfer the toner images of the respective colors onto the transfer paper 30 that is conveyed from below to above. The transfer paper 30 onto which the toner images of the respective colors have been transferred is fixed by the fixing device 31.
After undergoing a fixing process with heat and pressure by means of a discharge roll 32, a discharge tray 33 provided on the upper portion of the main body 1
Discharged on top.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the transfer paper 30 is of a predetermined size from the paper feed cassette 34.
The paper feed roller 35 and the pair of rollers 36 for separating and conveying the sheet are once conveyed to the registration roll 38 via the sheet conveying path 37 and stopped. The transfer paper 30 supplied from the paper feed cassette 34 is sent to the secondary transfer position of the intermediate transfer belt 35 by the registration roll 38 that rotates at a predetermined timing.

In the above digital color printer and copying machine, when making a double-sided copy such as full color, the transfer paper 30 having the image fixed on one side is not directly discharged onto the discharge tray 33 by the discharge roll 32. Then, the conveyance direction is switched by a switching gate (not shown), and the sheet is conveyed to the double-sided conveyance unit 40 via the roller pair 39 for conveying the sheet. Then, in the double-sided transport unit 40, a pair of transport rollers (not shown) provided along the transport path 41 transports the transfer sheet 30 to the registration roll 38 again with the front and back sides thereof reversed.
This time, the image is transferred and fixed on the back surface of the transfer sheet 30 and then discharged onto the discharge tray 33.

2 and 3, 44Y, 44M, 44
C and 44K denote toner cartridges that supply toner of a predetermined color to the developing devices 17 for the respective colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K).

FIG. 4 shows each image forming unit of the digital color printer and the copying machine.

The above-mentioned four image forming units 13Y, 13M and 13 for yellow, magenta, cyan and black.
As shown in FIG. 4, all of C and 13K have the same structure, and these four image forming units 13Y and
In 13M, 13C, and 13K, as described above, the yellow, magenta, cyan, and black toner images are sequentially formed at predetermined timings. The image forming units 13Y, 13M,
13C and 13K are the photosensitive drums 15 as described above.
The surfaces of these photosensitive drums 15 are uniformly charged by the charging roll 16 for primary charging.
Thereafter, the surface of the photoconductor drum 15 is subjected to scanning exposure with the laser beam LB for image formation emitted from the ROS 14 according to the image data, and an electrostatic latent image corresponding to each color is formed. The laser beam LB that is scanned and exposed on the photosensitive drum 15 is set to be exposed at a predetermined inclination angle α from obliquely below and slightly to the right of the photosensitive drum 15. The electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 15 is the image forming unit 13Y, 13M,
13C and 13K developing roller 17a of developing device 17 develops visible toner images by developing yellow toner, magenta toner, cyan toner, and black toner, respectively. These visible toner images are charged by primary transfer roller 26. The images are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 25 in a multiplex manner.

The cleaning device 18 removes residual toner, paper dust and the like from the surface of the photosensitive drum 15 after the toner image transfer step is completed, and prepares for the next image forming process. The cleaning device 18 includes a cleaning blade 42, and the cleaning blade 42 removes residual toner, paper dust, and the like on the photosensitive drum 15. Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 25 after the completion of the toner image transfer process is cleaned by the cleaning device 43.
The residual toner, paper dust, and the like are removed by the process to prepare for the next image forming process. The cleaning device 43 includes a cleaning brush 43a and a cleaning blade 43.
b, the cleaning brush 43a and the blade 42 remove residual toner, paper dust, and the like on the intermediate transfer belt 25.

FIGS. 5 to 7 show the image forming units 1 described above.
Developing device 1 used for 3Y, 13M, 13C, 13K
7 is shown.

As shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the developing device 17 includes corresponding image forming units 13Y, 13M, 1
It is formed by a developing device having a two-component developer 46 composed of toners of 3C and 13K colors and a carrier,
The structure is similar to that of the photosensitive drum 1 of the developing device housing 47.
5, the developing roll 48 disposed on the 5 side and the developing roll 4
8, a developer carrying paddle 49, a developer carrying / stirring auger 50, 51 provided on the back side of the developer carrying paddle 49, and a developing roll 48. A blade 52 for regulating the layer thickness of the developer 46,
It is composed of. In this case, the developing roll 48 is
For example, it is composed of a developing sleeve (not shown) made of a non-magnetic conductive member such as aluminum alloy or stainless steel, and a magnet roll (not shown) fixedly disposed inside the developing sleeve. A partition plate 53 is provided between the two developer conveying / stirring augers 50 and 51.

Further, as will be described later, the inside of the developing device 17 is configured so that toner is replenished at a predetermined timing by the toner replenishing device according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the toner replenished from the toner replenishing device is such that toner of a predetermined color is supplied to one end portion 51a of the developer conveying / stirring auger 51. The toner supplied to the inside of the developing device 17 is the auger 51 for developer conveyance and stirring.
Is conveyed along the longitudinal direction of the developing device 17 and is agitated and mixed with the developer 46, and is passed to the other developer conveying and agitating auger 50 through the passage 54 provided at the end of the partition plate 53. Be done. The developer 46 delivered to the developer transporting / stirring auger 50 is stirred and mixed with the developer 46 while being transported along the axial direction of the developer transporting / stirring auger 50, and the other side of the partition plate 53. The toner is again supplied to one of the developer conveying / stirring augers 51 through a passage 55 provided at the end of. In this way, the toner supplied to the inside of the developing device 17 is
Along with the developer 46, the two developer conveying / stirring augers 50 and 51 convey and stir mix, and at the same time, the carrier is frictionally charged to a predetermined charge amount, and a part of the developer conveying paddle is used. It is conveyed to the developing roller 48 by 49 and used for developing the electrostatic latent image on the photoconductor drum 15.

8 to 10 show a toner replenishing device used in the above digital color printer and copying machine.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, in the digital color printer and the copying machine in which the toner replenishing device is mounted, the developing device 17 is located on the lower side and the toner replenishing device 57 is located on the upper side. The toner replenishing device 57 is separated to some extent. The toner replenishing device 57
Is provided with a toner cartridge 58 containing a toner image of a predetermined color. As shown in FIG. 10, the toner cartridge 58 has a toner supply port 59 that opens and closes by rotating in a predetermined direction with the toner cartridge 58 mounted in a predetermined position of the printer body 1. . Further, as shown in FIG. 10, the toner T is stored inside the main body 58a of the toner cartridge 58, and serves as a replenishing member for replenishing the toner T from the toner replenishing port 59 while stirring the toner T. The agitator 82 is rotatably arranged. A driving force transmission member 83 for rotationally driving the agitator 82 is attached to the outside of one end of the toner cartridge body 58a in the axial direction.

The toner replenished from the toner replenishing port 59 of the toner cartridge 58, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 12, is an introduction port of a first toner conveying path 60 arranged substantially in the horizontal direction. It is supplied in 61. The first toner carrying path 60 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and the spiral carrying blade 6 is provided inside the first toner carrying path 60 on the outer circumference of the rotating shaft 62.
An auger 64 in which 3 is integrally formed is rotatably arranged. The auger 64 is rotationally driven by a predetermined amount at a predetermined timing by a drive motor (not shown) provided at one end of the rotary shaft 62 of the auger 64.

A second toner carrying path 65, which is arranged substantially along the vertical direction, is connected to the tip of the first toner carrying path 60. At the tip of the first toner carrying path 60, there is integrally formed a cylindrical portion 66, which is arranged short along the substantially vertical direction, and the upper end 66a of the cylindrical portion 66 is closed. And its lower end 66b
Is open. Then, the first toner transport path 6
An upper end 67 having a large diameter of the second toner carrying path 65 is fitted to the lower end of the cylindrical part 66 of 0. The second toner transport path 65
Is formed such that a cylindrical portion 69 having a smaller diameter than the upper end portion 67 is continuously provided from an upper end portion 67 having a large diameter through a short taper portion 68. Also,
Inside the second toner conveying path 65, a spring agitator 70 formed in a spiral shape by a metal wire or the like is rotatably arranged.

Further, in the auger 64 disposed inside the first toner conveying path 60, a spiral conveying blade 63 is formed on the outer periphery of the rotary shaft 62 up to the entrance of the cylindrical portion 66, The tip of the rotary shaft 62 is pivotally supported by the side wall 66c of the cylindrical portion 66 via a crank portion 71 arranged inside the cylindrical portion 66. Also,
The spring agitator 70 is connected to the crank portion 71 of the auger 64 in a state where the hook portion 72 of the spring agitator 70 curved in a substantially circular shape is inserted. A portion 71a of the crank portion 71 of the auger 64 on the distal end side is formed so that the substantially circular hook portion 72 provided on the distal end portion of the spring agitator 70 can be easily inserted inside the cylindrical portion 66. ,
It is provided in an inclined state. The inner diameter of the hook portion 72 of the spring agitator 70 is equal to that of the crank portion 71.
It is set slightly larger than the shaft diameter of the auger 6
When 4 rotates, the spring agitator 70 moves up and down in the second transport path 65.

By the way, the coupling member according to the present embodiment is a coupling member which connects the driving side and the driven side so as to be detachable and capable of transmitting the rotational driving force. The coupling member disposed on the driven side is made of synthetic resin, and the driven side coupling member is elastically movable in the thrust direction to the driven side coupling member. The spring portion is integrally provided.

Further, the cartridge according to this embodiment is a cartridge which is detachably connected to the driving side through a coupling member and which is capable of transmitting the rotational driving force, and is disposed in the cartridge. The coupling member is formed of synthetic resin, and the driven-side coupling member is integrally provided with a spring portion for elastically moving the driven-side coupling member in the thrust direction. Is configured.

That is, in this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, the toner cartridge 58 is a toner cartridge main body 58a containing the toner T therein.
And an agitator 82 as a toner replenishing member for rotatably disposed inside the toner cartridge main body 58a and replenishing the toner T accommodated in the toner cartridge main body 58a from the toner replenishing port 59, and an external unit. And a coupling member 83 as a driving force transmission member for rotationally driving the agitator 82.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 13, the coupling member 83 has a rear surface side center shaft 86 connected to an agitator 82 arranged inside the toner cartridge main body 58a. Cartridge body 5
It is rotatably attached to the end surface of 8a on the far side in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the coupling member 83 is formed of a synthetic resin such as POM in a substantially disc shape, and has a back surface side for fixing the end portion of the agitator 82 in a connected state. The center shaft 87 is provided in a cylindrical shape and has a groove 87a for fixing the end of the agitator 82 in a fitted state to the center shaft 87.
Has been drilled. In addition, a driving force transmitting portion 85 is formed on the surface side of the coupling member 83 along the diametrical direction.
Two are provided, one at each position different from each other by 0 degree. The driving force transmission portion 85 of the coupling member 83
Is formed such that one side surface 85a in the circumferential direction thereof forms a linear edge, and the other side surface 85b in the circumferential direction thereof forms a gentle slope. The portion 83a other than the transmission portion 85 is formed in a planar shape.

Further, the coupling member 83 has
The spring portion 86 that allows the coupling member 83 to elastically move in the thrust direction is provided with the coupling member 83.
Are integrally provided at symmetrical positions on the outer circumference. The base portion 86a of the spring portion 86 is integrally provided on the one side surface 85a of the driving force transmission portion 85, and the tip portion side thereof has a gap 87 along the outer periphery of the coupling member 83. The spring portion 86 is elastically deformable according to the elastic modulus of the synthetic resin forming the coupling member 83. Further, the tip portion 86a of the spring portion 86 is provided on the back surface side in a state of being bent by 90 degrees, and the tip portion 86a provided on the back surface side of the spring portion 86 is the toner cartridge body 58a.
With respect to the end surface on the inner side in the axial direction of, there is a small gap therebetween.

In the coupling member 83, the member on the drive source side of the toner replenishing device is a flat portion 83a.
Even when it abuts on the driving force transmitting portion 85 other than the above, the driving force is transmitted when the toner cartridge main body 58a is rotated while being guided along the gentle slope 85b and moving to the flat portion. By engaging with the linearly formed edge 85a of the portion 85, the driving force can be reliably transmitted.

When the driving force transmitting portion 85 of the coupling member 83 comes into contact with the driving force transmitting portion 104 of the coupling member 100 on the toner replenishing device side, the coupling member 100 on the toner replenishing device side is formed. Driving force transmission unit 1
When pushed in the thrust direction by 04, the tip end portion 86a of the spring portion 86 of the coupling member 83 comes into contact with the end surface of the toner cartridge body 58a on the inner side,
The spring portion 86 is elastically deformed, and the coupling member 83 moves in the thrust direction.

Further, the toner cartridge main body 58 is provided.
As shown in FIG. 13, in order to prevent the driving force transmitting member 83 from unintentionally coming into contact with other members, the end surface of the a of the toner cartridge main body 58a on the inner side and the radial direction of the toner cartridge main body 58a. A flange portion 88 is provided along.

Further, the toner replenishing device 57 has a structure shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 4, driving means 99 for driving the agitator 82 and the like of the toner cartridge 58 is arranged at the end on the back side of the mounting position of the toner cartridge 58.
The drive means 99 is an agitator 82 of the toner cartridge by a drive motor as a drive source (not shown).
Is provided with a coupling member 100 for rotationally driving.

As shown in FIG. 14, this coupling member 100 has a cylindrical flange portion 101.
And a driving force transmitting portion 102 formed in a cross shape inside the flange portion 101. The one side surface 102a of the tip portion of the driving force transmitting portion 102 is formed in a tapered shape.

In the toner cartridge and the toner replenishing device according to the present embodiment having the above-mentioned structure, even if the number of parts is reduced and the cost can be reduced as described below, the coupling of the synthetic resin is used. It is possible to prevent the occurrence of fatigue in a portion having springiness, and to prevent malfunction.

That is, in the toner cartridge and the toner replenishing device according to this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, when the toner cartridge 58 is replaced, after the used toner cartridge 58 is taken out from the toner replenishing device 57. A new toner cartridge 58 is attached to a predetermined position of the toner replenishing device 57.
At this time, in order to mount the toner cartridge 58 on the toner replenishing device 57, the toner cartridge 58 is pushed to a predetermined position in the toner replenishing device 57, and then the toner cartridge 58 is rotated to a predetermined position along the circumferential direction. By doing so, the toner supply port 59 of the toner cartridge 58 is opened.

In the state where the new toner cartridge 58 is mounted at the predetermined position of the toner replenishing device 57, the driving means 99 of the toner replenishing device 57 is not driven, so the coupling member 100 of the driving means 99 also stops. It has been left. In this state, when the driving force transmitting portion 85 of the coupling member 83 comes into contact with the driving force transmitting portion 102 of the coupling member 100 on the toner replenishing device side, the driving force of the coupling member 100 on the toner replenishing device side is reached. When pushed by the transmission portion 102 in the thrust direction, the tip portion 8 of the spring portion 86 of the coupling member 83 is pushed.
6a comes into contact with the rear end surface of the toner cartridge main body 58a, the spring portion 86 elastically deforms, and the coupling member 83 moves in the thrust direction.

The coupling member 83 is the coupling member 100 on the drive source side of the toner replenishing device.
Even when the driving force transmitting portion 85 other than the flat portion 83a is brought into contact with the driving force transmitting portion 85, the elastic restoring force of the spring portion 86 guides it along the gentle slope 85b to move it to the flat portion or at the time of mounting. When the toner cartridge main body 58a is rotated, the driving force can be reliably transmitted by engaging with the linearly formed edge 85a of the driving force transmission portion 85. In the state where the driving force transmitting portion 85 of the coupling member 83 normally meshes with the driving force transmitting portion 102 of the coupling member 100 on the toner replenishing device side, as shown in FIG. The spring portion 86 has returned to its original shape due to the elastic restoring force.

As described above, in the above embodiment, the coupling member 83 provided on the toner cartridge side is
The coupling member 83 is formed of synthetic resin, and the coupling member 83 is integrally provided with a spring portion 86 that elastically moves the coupling member 83 in the thrust direction. Of the driving force transmitting portion 85 of the coupling member 1 on the toner replenishing device side.
00, the coupling member 83 on the toner cartridge side is elastically deformed by the spring portion 86,
Not only can they be prevented from interfering with each other, but the number of parts can be reduced and cost can be reduced.

In addition, since the coupling member 83 provided on the toner cartridge side is provided with the spring portion 86, the driving force transmitting portion 85 of the coupling member 83 is provided.
However, even if the spring portion 86 elastically deforms due to the contact with the coupling member 100 on the toner replenishing device side, the agitator 82 of the toner cartridge causes the coupling member 83,
When rotationally driven through 100, the coupling members 83 and 100 of both are normally engaged and the spring portion 86 is restored. In addition, the coupling member 8 on the cartridge side
In No. 3, when the new toner cartridge 58 is attached to the toner replenishing device, the spring portion 86 is only elastically deformed, and once the toner cartridge 58 is used,
Since the spring portion 86 is restored, there is no fear that the spring portion 86 will be settled, and the toner cartridge 58
When the toner becomes empty, the toner is replaced with a new one, so that the coupling member 86 is not used repeatedly, and the spring portion 86 of the coupling member 83 is depressed to cause a toner supply failure or the like. It is possible to prevent malfunction.

FIG. 15 shows an example in which a spring portion 110 is provided on the coupling member 100 on the toner replenishing device side.

[0056]

As described above, according to the present invention,
Even if the number of parts is reduced and the cost can be reduced, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of fatigue in the part of the synthetic resin coupling having the spring property and prevent malfunction. A coupling member and a toner cartridge using the same can be provided.

[Brief description of drawings]

1A and 1B show a first embodiment of the present invention.
It is a perspective view which shows the front and back of the coupling member which concerns on respectively.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram showing a color printer as an image forming apparatus to which the toner cartridge and the toner replenishing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention are applied.

FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram showing a color copying machine as an image forming apparatus to which the toner cartridge and the toner replenishing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention are applied.

FIG. 4 is a configuration diagram illustrating an image forming unit.

FIG. 5 is a configuration diagram showing a developing device.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a developing device.

FIG. 7 is a perspective configuration diagram showing a developing device.

FIG. 8 is a perspective configuration diagram showing a toner replenishing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a perspective configuration diagram showing a toner replenishing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a perspective configuration diagram showing a toner cartridge.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional configuration diagram showing a toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a sectional configuration diagram showing a toner replenishing means of the toner replenishing device according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing a toner cartridge according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a driving member.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing another example of the coupling member.

[Explanation of symbols]

83: Coupling member, 85: Driving force transmitting portion, 86:
Spring part.

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A coupling member which connects a driving side and a driven side so as to be detachable and capable of transmitting a rotational driving force, wherein the coupling member is disposed on the driven side among the coupling members. Is formed of synthetic resin, and the coupling member on the driven side is integrally provided with a spring portion for elastically moving the coupling member on the driven side in the thrust direction. And coupling member. 2. A cartridge, which is detachably connected to a drive side through a coupling member and is capable of transmitting a rotational driving force, wherein the coupling member disposed in the cartridge is formed of synthetic resin. In addition, the driven-side coupling member is integrally provided with a spring portion for elastically moving the driven-side coupling member in the thrust direction.