JP2015114603A - Toner storing container, toner refilling device, and image formation device - Google Patents

Abstract

A toner cartridge capable of increasing toner storage capacity while suppressing generation of toner aggregates is provided. A toner cartridge includes a toner storage section, a stirring member, and a transport screw that transports the toner stirred by the stirring member toward a discharge port for replenishing the developing device. ing. The conveying screw 56 is arranged so that a part thereof is inside the rotation radius R of the stirring member 58. Thereby, compared with the conventional configuration shown in FIG. 6A, the toner storage capacity can be increased by the amount indicated by reference numeral 88. Both ends of the conveying screw 56 in the axial direction are covered with a cover (not shown), and the exposed portion of the conveying screw 56 does not come into contact with the stirring member 58, and aggregation of toner due to contact stress is suppressed. [Selection] Figure 6

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner storage container, a toner replenishing device that detachably supports the toner storage container, a copying machine having the toner replenishing device, a printer, a facsimile machine, a plotter, or a multifunction machine including at least one of these. The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus.

In this type of electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by supplying toner as a developer to the electrostatic latent image on the image carrier with a developing device. .
Since the toner in the developing device is consumed and reduced with use, the image forming apparatus is provided with a toner replenishing device for replenishing the developing device with toner.
The toner replenishing device includes a toner storage container and a mounting portion that detachably mounts the toner storage container.
As shown in FIG. 6A, the toner storage container 200 includes a toner storage portion 202 for storing the toner T, a discharge port (not shown) for discharging the toner to the outside, and the toner in the toner storage portion 202. Toner conveying means 204 for conveying the toner to the discharge port.
When a toner density sensor (not shown) detects that the amount of toner in the developing device, which will be described later, has decreased, the toner transport unit 204 is driven, and the toner in the toner storage unit 202 is discharged from the discharge port and supplied to the developing device. Is done.

The toner conveying means 204 rotates in a direction perpendicular to the toner conveying direction by the conveying screw 206 as a toner discharging member that conveys toner toward the discharging port while rotating, and conveys the toner while stirring the toner. And an agitating member 208 to be supplied.
The agitation member 208 includes a relatively high-rigidity support member 212 that integrally includes the rotation shaft 210 and a flexible blade member 214 that is disposed on the free end side of the support member 212.
When the support member 212 rotates, the blade member 214 moves in contact with the inner wall of the toner storage portion 202 and is elastically deformed. As a result, the toner is supplied to the conveying screw 206 while being agitated.
The discharge port is formed on one end side in the axial direction of the transport screw 206, and the toner transported by the rotation of the transport screw 206 falls from the discharge port to the outside of the toner storage container 200.

When the conveying screw 206 and the blade member 214 come into contact with each other, stress is applied to the toner and toner aggregates are easily generated.
When toner aggregates are formed, they are replenished to the developing device in the form of lumps, impeding the flowability of the developer in the developing device and adversely affecting the uniform charging of the toner.
In order to avoid such a problem, the conveying screw 206 is disposed outside the region of the rotation radius R of the stirring member 208 so as not to contact the stirring member 208.
Here, the rotation radius R means the radius of the locus circle when the blade member 214 moves in contact with the inner wall of the toner storage portion 202 and is elastically deformed. Arc-shaped radius of curvature (hereinafter the same).

For this reason, a dead space 216 indicated by hatching is generated in the lower part of the toner storage container 200 due to the presence of the conveying screw 206, and the toner storage capacity of the entire toner storage container is reduced.
In other words, the ratio of the toner capacity to the total volume of the toner container cannot be increased, and the space generated by the presence of the conveying screw 206 is wasted.

  The toner storage capacity of the toner storage container is desirably as large as possible from the viewpoint of reducing the frequency of replacement work when the toner becomes empty.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a current situation, and its main object is to provide a toner storage container capable of increasing the storage capacity of toner while suppressing the formation of toner aggregates.

  To achieve the above object, the present invention provides a toner storage portion for storing toner, a discharge port for discharging the toner stored in the toner storage portion, and the toner in the toner storage portion. A toner conveying unit that conveys the toner toward the discharge port, and a toner discharge member that conveys the toner toward the discharge port while rotating, and a direction that intersects a toner conveyance direction by the toner discharge member And a stirring member for supplying the toner to the toner discharge member while stirring the toner. At least a part of the toner discharge member is located inside the rotation radius of the stirring member. A portion of the toner discharge member is covered with a cover, and the stirring member is deformed in contact with the cover so that the toner discharge member is Characterized in that it rotates Rikoe.

According to the present invention, it is possible to realize a toner storage container capable of increasing the toner storage capacity while suppressing the formation of toner aggregates.
Thereby, it can contribute to suppression of the replacement frequency of a toner storage container.

1 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2A and 2B are views showing a toner replenishing device, in which FIG. 1A is a perspective view showing an internal structure in which only one toner container is mounted, and FIG. 2B is a perspective view showing a state where the door is closed. . FIG. 6 is a perspective view illustrating a state where a front plate of the toner storage container is opened. It is a principal part perspective view which shows the state by which the axial direction both ends of the conveyance screw were covered with the cover when the front board was closed. It is a perspective view of a stirring member. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views illustrating a toner storage container, in which FIG. 1A is a diagram illustrating a conventional configuration, and FIG. 2B is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the contact state of the blade member of a stirring member, and the cover which covers the axial direction both ends of a conveyance screw. It is sectional drawing which shows the contact state of the blade member of a stirring member, and the cover which covers the axial direction both ends of a conveyance screw. It is a figure which shows the relationship of the length of the part covered with the cover of a conveyance screw, and the exposed part. It is a figure which shows the modification of a cover shape.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
An outline of the configuration of a color printer (hereinafter simply referred to as “printer”) as an image forming apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.
This printer forms a color image using four color developers of yellow, cyan, magenta, and black.
In the figure, the suffixes Y, C, M, and K attached to the end of the reference numerals indicate members for yellow, cyan, magenta, and black. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same function and the same member, and duplication description is abbreviate | omitted.

The printer includes a transfer unit 20 inside the main body 100 as transfer means. The transfer unit 20 has a configuration in which an endless intermediate transfer belt 23 as an intermediate transfer member is wound around a plurality of rollers 21 and 22.
The intermediate transfer belt 23 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction in the figure by a drive motor (not shown).
Inside the intermediate transfer belt 23, four primary transfer rollers 24Y, 24C, 24M, and 24K as primary transfer members are disposed so as to contact the belt.
A secondary transfer roller 25 as a secondary transfer member is disposed outside the intermediate transfer belt 23 at a position facing the roller 21.
Reference numeral 26 denotes a belt cleaning means for cleaning the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 23.

A primary transfer bias is supplied from a power source (not shown) to the primary transfer rollers 24Y, 24C, 24M, and 24K, and a secondary transfer bias is supplied to the secondary transfer roller 25 from a power source (not shown).
Above the transfer unit 20, four image forming units for Y, C, M, and K as image forming means are arranged along the upper horizontal surface of the intermediate transfer belt 23.

Each image forming unit includes drum-shaped photoreceptors 11Y, 11C, 11M, and 11K as image carriers, charging units 12Y, 12C, 12M, and 12K, and developing devices 13Y, 13C, 13M, and 13K. .
Each image forming unit includes drum cleaning devices 14Y, 14C, 14M, and 14K.
These members are integrated for each unit by a casing (not shown) and are detachable from the main body 100.
The lower part of the peripheral surface of each photoconductor is in contact with the upper horizontal surface of the intermediate transfer belt 23 facing the primary transfer rollers 24Y, 24C, 24M, and 24K, and thereby primary for Y, C, M, and K. A transfer nip is formed.

A writing unit 30 is disposed above the image forming unit. The writing unit 30 rotates in the clockwise direction in the figure by driving a light source (not shown) based on the image information and irradiating each photoconductor with exposure light for Y, C, M, and K to perform optical scanning. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the peripheral surface of each photoconductor to be driven.
The developing devices 13Y, 13C, 13M, and 13K contain Y, C, M, and K color developers, respectively, and each developer is supplied to each photoconductor by a developer carrier to which a developing bias is supplied. Supplied to the surface.
As a result, the electrostatic latent image is developed and visualized as a toner image.
Toner replenishing devices 40Y, 40C, 40M, and 40K are disposed above the developing devices 13Y, 13C, 13M, and 13K.
Toner supply devices 40Y, 40C, 40M, and 40K are detachably mounted with toner cartridges 50Y, 50C, 50M, and 50 as toner storage containers storing supply toner.

The developing devices 13Y, 13C, 13M, and 13K are provided with a toner concentration sensor (not shown). When the toner concentration sensor detects that the toner concentration in the developer is below a predetermined value, a control (not shown) is performed. The means operates the toner supply devices 40Y, 40C, 40M, and 40K.
As a result, the toner in the toner cartridges 50Y, 50C, 50M, 50 is supplied to the developing device by a toner supply means (not shown).

Below the transfer unit 20, a paper feeding unit 60 that stores a recording material P as a recording medium is disposed.
The recording material P of the paper feed unit 60 is sent from the paper feed unit 60 to the paper feed path 62 by the paper feed roller 61. In the paper feed path 62, a transport roller pair 63 and a resist roller pair 64 for transporting the recording material P fed from the paper feed unit 60 toward the secondary transfer nip are arranged.
The recording material P in the paper feed path 62 is conveyed to the secondary transfer nip by the registration roller pair 64 in synchronization with the superimposed image on the intermediate transfer belt 23.
A fixing unit 70 is disposed above the secondary transfer nip, and a discharge roller pair 65 is disposed downstream of the fixing unit 70 in the conveyance direction of the recording material.

At the time of color image formation, the toner image formed on the surface of the photoconductor of each color is transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 23 in the primary transfer nip, and the superimposed image is collectively transferred to the recording material P in the secondary transfer nip. Is done.
Each transferred photoreceptor is removed by drum cleaning devices 14Y, 14C, 14M, and 14K, and the intermediate transfer belt 23 after transfer is removed by a belt cleaning means 26, respectively. The
The recording material P to which the superimposed image is transferred passes through the fixing unit 70 to fix the toner image, and is discharged to the outside of the main body 100 by the discharge roller pair 65.
In the present embodiment, the recording material P is stacked on a stacking portion 66 formed on the upper surface of the main body.

Next, the configuration of the toner supply device and the toner cartridge will be described.
Since the toner replenishing devices 40Y, 40C, 40M, and 40K and the toner cartridges 50Y, 50C, 50M, and 50K have the same configuration except for the color of the developer (toner), one of the common configurations is described below. explain. The subscripts Y, C, M, and K are omitted.

As shown in FIG. 2, the toner replenishing device 40 includes a toner cartridge 50 and a mounting portion 41 that detachably supports the toner cartridge 50, and the toner in the toner cartridge 50 is developed with a corresponding color developing device. 13 is supplied.
The mounting portion 41 has an opening 42 for housing the toner cartridge 50 therein and a door 43 for opening and closing the opening 42.
The mounting portion 41 has a shape whose internal shape approximates the external shape of the toner cartridge 50, and holds the toner cartridge 50 detachably in the direction indicated by the symbol A.
Reference symbol A1 indicates an insertion direction, and reference symbol A2 indicates a removal direction.

FIG. 2A shows a configuration in which openings 42 for accommodating four toner cartridges 50 are formed.
In addition, one toner cartridge 50 is stored in the mounting portion 41 and the door 43 is open.
FIG. 2B shows a state in which the door 43 is closed. In this state, the opening 42 is closed. The door 43 is located on the exterior surface of the main body 100 of the image forming apparatus, and can be opened and closed from the outside of the main body 100.

As shown in FIG. 3, the toner cartridge 50 includes a toner storage portion 52 as a container body whose front surface is opened, and a front plate 54 as a side plate that closes the front surface.
The toner storage unit 52 stirs the toner stored in the toner storage unit 52 as a toner discharge member that rotates the toner stored in the toner storage unit 52 toward a discharge port (not shown) and the toner in the toner storage unit 52. However, an agitating member 58 for supplying to the site of the conveying screw 56 is provided.
The conveying screw 56 is accommodated in a toner conveying path 72 having a semicircular cross section formed integrally on the bottom surface side of the toner accommodating portion 52, and is rotated by a driving mechanism (not shown).
The upstream end of the conveying screw 56 in the toner conveying direction (hereinafter referred to as “axial direction” or “rotating axis direction”) is covered with a rear screw cover 74 as a cover formed integrally with the toner storage portion 52. Yes.
The discharge port is provided on the downstream side in the axial direction of the toner transport path 72, and the toner transported by the transport screw 56 falls from the discharge port and is replenished to the developing device by a toner replenishing means (not shown).

The stirring member 58 includes a rotating shaft 76 whose end in the axial direction is supported in a cantilevered state on the toner storage portion 52, and a stirring member main body 78.
The agitating member 58 rotates in a direction that intersects the axial direction of the conveying screw 56, in this case, in the orthogonal direction.
When the toner cartridge 50 is set in the toner replenishing device 40, the rotary shaft 76 is rotatably connected to a driving mechanism (not shown) provided on the toner replenishing device 40 side. The same applies to the transport screw 56.
Inside the front plate 54, a bearing 80 for integrally inserting and supporting the free end portion of the rotary shaft 76 is formed.
Further, when the front plate 54 is attached so as to close the front surface of the toner storage portion 52, a front screw cover 82 is integrally formed as a cover that covers the upper portion of the downstream end portion in the axial direction of the transport screw 56. Yes.

  When the front plate 54 is attached, as shown in FIG. 4, both end portions of the transport screw 56 in the rotation axis direction are respectively covered with a rear screw cover 74 and a front screw cover 82, and the transport screw 56 is between them. It will be exposed.

Based on FIG. 5, the structure of the stirring member 58 is demonstrated in detail.
The agitating member main body 78 has an opening 84a and a rib 84b through which toner passes, a bone member 84 that is integrally fixed to the rotating shaft 76, and a flexible blade member 86 that is fixed to both ends of the bone member 84. It consists of and. The bone member 84 has rigidity.
The rotating shaft 76 and the conveying screw 56 of the stirring member 58 are arranged in the toner storage unit 52 so as to be parallel to each other.

The agitating member 58 agitates the toner in the toner storage portion 52 so as to prevent the toner from being agglomerated, and supplies the toner to the toner conveyance path 72 in which the conveyance screw 56 is disposed.
The toner supplied to the toner transport path 72 is transported in the axial direction by the transport screw 56, discharged from the discharge port, and enters a sub hopper (not shown) disposed under the toner cartridge.
The discharge port can be opened and closed by a shutter member (not shown). When toner is supplied, the discharge port is opened.
In this embodiment, the toner discharged from the toner cartridge is transported to the developing device by the toner replenishing means. However, the toner cartridge may be directly supplied to the developing device.

It is simple and preferable that the rotating shaft 76 and the bone member 84 are integrally formed of metal or resin. You may form with another material and a manufacturing method.
The blade member 86 is made of a material having low rigidity, such as PET (polyethylene terephthalate), PE (polyethylene), PP (polypropylene), PPS (polyphenylene sulfide), a polyurethane sheet, or the like.
The thickness of the blade member 86 is preferably about 50 μm to 500 μm, and particularly preferably 50 μm to 300 μm.
The blade member 86 is set to a length that extends 10 mm or more outward from the end of the bone member 84 in the direction orthogonal to the rotation shaft 76.
The amount of biting into the wall surface (inner surface) of the toner storage portion 52 of the blade member 86 is preferably about 0 to 20 mm.

As shown in FIG. 6B, the conveying screw 56 in this embodiment is disposed at a position where a part of the conveying screw 56 enters the inside of the rotation radius R of the stirring member 58.
By disposing in this way, the volume of the toner storage portion 52 can be increased by the amount indicated by reference numeral 88. In other words, the volume can be increased by lowering the bottom surface of the toner storage portion 52.
In such a case, the conveying screw 56 and the blade member 86 come into contact with each other, and as described above, stress is applied to the toner, and toner aggregates are easily generated.

However, as described above, both end portions in the axial direction of the conveying screw 56 are covered with the rear screw cover 74 and the front screw cover 82, respectively.
For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the blade member 86 is bent at the axial end thereof in contact with the rear screw cover 74 and the front screw cover 82.
Since the blade member 86 has a rectangular shape with no cut in the axial direction, the central portion of the blade member 86 also bends following it.

Therefore, the blade member 86 moves over the transport screw 56 without contacting the transport screw 56 exposed between the rear screw cover 74 and the front screw cover 82.
Accordingly, it is possible to suppress the toner aggregates from being generated due to contact between the conveying screw 56 and the blade member 86.
The toner supplied by the stirring member 58 is transported toward the discharge port at the exposed portion of the transport screw 56.
As shown in FIG. 9, it is desirable to make the exposed length c between the covers larger than the length (a + b) covered with the cover of the transport screw 56. As a result, it is possible to ensure toner discharge.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, the rotation direction of the stirring member 58 is shown in an opposite manner to the actual (counterclockwise direction) for easy understanding.
When toner having an outflow temperature of 90 ° C. or less is used, aggregation is particularly likely to occur. However, according to the configuration of the present embodiment, it is possible to satisfactorily suppress the formation of toner aggregates even with such toner. .

As described above, in this embodiment, the front screw cover 82 is formed integrally with the front plate 54. In this way, it is possible to avoid problems such as removal during molding by the mold, compared to the case where the toner storage unit 52 is integrally formed.
Of course, the front screw cover 82 may be formed integrally with the toner storage portion 52. Further, the rear screw cover 74 may be formed integrally with the rear plate.
In short, when the side plate such as the front plate 54 is assembled or the side plate that can be opened and closed is closed to form the toner storage portion 52, the axial end portion of the transport screw 56 is covered with the cover. Good.
Further, the rear screw cover 74 and the front screw cover 82 may be formed integrally with the toner conveyance path 72 in a cylindrical shape.

In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shapes of the rear screw cover 74 and the front screw cover 82 are semicircular, but as shown in FIG. 10, if the mountain shape is gently curved toward the outside, The toner retention can be suppressed, which is more desirable.
In the above description, the blade member 86 is configured not to contact the exposed portion of the conveying screw 56. However, there is no problem even if the blade member 86 is in contact with the blade member 86 as long as it is in a contact state that can suppress the generation of toner aggregates.
Although it is most desirable not to contact, the gist of the present invention is that it is only necessary to suppress the generation of toner aggregates by the cover regardless of whether or not the blade member 86 contacts the conveying screw 56.
In order to obtain this suppression function, the axial length of the blade member 86 is set to be larger than the exposed length c between the covers in FIG.

In the above embodiment, the both ends of the conveying screw 56 in the axial direction are covered with the cover, but only one of them may be used as long as the contact of the blade member 86 with the conveying screw 56 can be avoided or reduced.
Further, in the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the screw shape is adopted as the toner discharge member is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and for example, a conveyance coil may be used.

Patent Document 1 describes a configuration in which a conveyance screw is installed within the rotation radius of a stirring member. However, in order to prevent the formation of a cake-like lump of toner above the conveyance screw, the conveyance screw is actively used. It aims at making a stirring member contact.
As shown in FIG. 7 of the document, a plurality of slits are formed in the blade member at intervals in the axial direction so that the contact is surely generated.
With such a configuration, it is not possible to prevent the toner aggregates from being generated due to contact between the conveying screw and the blade member.
Further, in the configuration in which the blade member has a slit (cut), the deformation follow-up property that avoids the contact of the central portion of the blade member with the conveying screw when contacting the cover cannot be obtained.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Photoconductor as image carrier 13 Developing device 40 Toner replenishing device 41 Mounting portion 50 Toner cartridge as toner storage container 52 Toner storage portion 54 Front plate as side plate 56 Conveying screw as toner discharge member 58 Stirring member 74 As cover Rear screw cover 82 Front screw cover as cover

JP 2008-197636 A

Claims (7)

A toner storage section for storing toner;
A discharge port for discharging the toner stored in the toner storage unit;
Toner conveying means for conveying the toner in the toner storage portion to the discharge port;
Have
The toner conveying means rotates in a direction that intersects a toner conveying direction by the toner discharging member and conveys the toner toward the discharging port while rotating, to the toner discharging member while stirring the toner. In a toner storage container composed of a stirring member for supplying,
The toner discharging member is disposed so that at least a part thereof is located inside the rotation radius of the stirring member,
A portion of the toner discharge member is covered with a cover;
A toner storage container, wherein the agitating member rotates while getting over the toner discharging member when the stirring member comes into contact with the cover and deforms. The toner container according to claim 1.
The toner storage container, wherein the cover is provided at both ends of the toner discharge member in the rotation axis direction of the stirring member. The toner storage container according to claim 2.
A toner storage container, wherein the cover is provided on a side plate constituting the toner storage portion, and the cover covers the toner discharge member when the side plate is assembled or closed. The toner storage container according to claim 3.
A toner storage container, wherein the cover is integrally formed with the side plate. In the toner storage container according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A toner storage container, wherein the toner discharge member has a screw shape. A toner replenishing device that includes a toner storage container and a mounting portion that detachably supports the toner storage container, and supplies toner in the toner storage container to a developing device;
A toner supply device, wherein the toner storage container is the toner storage container according to claim 1. An image forming apparatus comprising: an image carrier; a developing device that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on the image carrier; and a toner replenishing device that supplies toner to the developing device.
An image forming apparatus, wherein the toner supply device is the toner supply device according to claim 6.

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