JPH0225872A - Toner container - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To eliminate the possibility of generating a fire even if the toner container is stored into a machine and is used by constituting the container body of a member subjected to a flame retarding treatment and imparting a self-extinguishing property to said body. CONSTITUTION:A slender cylindrical body which is formed by spirally winding and superposing, for example, kraft paper plural ties to 0.5-2mm thickness or plastic cylindrical body which is formed to 0.5-3mm thickness by press molding is used for the container body 21. A surface coating layer 21b and a surface paper layer 21C, a liner paper layer 21d, a metallic layer 21e, and an adhesive agent layer 21f are laminated thereon. A flame retarding agent such as, for example, phosphoric acid compd., having the self-extinguishing property is incorporated into at least one layer of the respective constituting layers 21b-21f in order to impart flame retardance to the container 21. The possibility of the fire, etc., is eliminated in this way even if the container is stored in the machine and is used.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a toner replenishment car i which is detachably installed in an electrostatic recording device such as a copying machine and is used while being stored in the machine during copying. -Regarding improvements to the ridge and/or waste toner collection container.

[Conventional technology]

2. Description of the Related Art In conventional copying machines and the like, when toner is supplied to a developing device, the toner is often directly supplied to the developing device via a hopper having an opening outside the machine. In this case, each time the toner is replenished into the opening of the hopper, the toner spills around the opening and contaminates the inside and outside of the machine, deteriorating the working environment.
This will reduce the quality of the copy. Another disadvantage is that the developing device is large, making it unsuitable for compact copying machines such as popular models.

For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 156859/1983 proposes a cartridge as shown in FIG. 12(B) which is used by being detachably installed in the developing device shown in FIG. 12(A).

In the figure, 1 is a developing device, 2 is a developer chamber, T is magnetic toner in the developer chamber 2, 3 is a slit, and 4 is a developing roll, which is composed of a sleeve 5 and a magnetic roll that rotate relative to each other. 8
is an image carrier, 9 is a cartridge, and T! is cartridge 9
This is replenishment magnetic toner contained in the . Reference numeral 10 denotes a container body, and inexpensive paper or thin glass is used as the constituent material 7. Further, an opening 11 for toner replenishment is provided in the longitudinal direction, and the opening 11 is sealed by a sealing member 12 . 12 and 13 are equipped! 7 lunges for closing the openings on both sides of the main body lO,
A knob 14 for removing the cartridge 1 is provided on the 7-lunge 12. 7. The flange 13 is provided with a protrusion 15 that acts as a guide when the cartridge 9 is installed in the developing device. Further, the 7-lunge 13 has an opening 16 for accommodating the toner T2 in the cartridge 9, and the opening 16 is closed with a cap 17 after accommodating the toner.

Next, in order to load the cartridge 9 into the developing device, the sealing material 12 is first peeled off to expose the opening 11, and the protrusion 15 provided on the seven flange 13 is inserted into the cartridge insertion hole 18 of the developing device. The cartridge is fitted into the guide groove 19 and pushed into the insertion hole 18 to be installed. When pushed in sufficiently, the protrusion 15 is removed from the guide groove 19 and the cartridge becomes rotatable. Thereupon, the cartridge 9 is rotated 10 degrees and stopped at a designated position by a stopper. At this time, the opening 11 of the cartridge 9 faces downward and toner is replenished. After replenishing the toner, the cartridge 9 is rotated 180 degrees again and returned to its original position.
The opening 11 is turned upward and the cartridge is pulled out and replaced with another cartridge.

In this way, toner replenishment has the advantage that there is less contamination of the inside and outside of the copying machine due to toner spillage, and that toner replenishment can be performed with one touch using a simple device. Also, the opening 1 of the cartridge
Since the toner T 5 is completely sealed by the sealing member 12, there is an advantage that the influence of temperature and humidity on the toner T in the cartridge 9 during storage is extremely reduced.

Although the toner container is an example described with respect to the cartridge 9 for replenishing toner to the developing device, examples in which the toner container is used as a waste toner collection container are also known. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 58-173783 describes an example in which a toner cartridge 9 used by being detachably attached to a copying machine is reused as a collection container for waste toner discharged from a cleaning device. has been done.

Thus, the utilization efficiency of the toner container is increased, costs are reduced, and toner contamination during waste toner collection is reduced.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

Of the toner containers described in each of the above-mentioned publications, after the toner cartridge is installed in the developing device, it can be immediately replenished with toner, pulled out from the developing device, and disposed of, or it can be used as a waste toner collection container if necessary. , a cavity is formed in the cartridge insertion hole 18 after the cartridge 9 is pulled out, and toner scattering occurs. In addition, small-sized copying machines such as popular models generally do not have a space that can accommodate replenishment toner in the cartridge 9, and in particular, if toner T remains in the developer chamber 2, the cartridge 9 It is impossible to replenish all of the toner T1.

Therefore, the cartridge 9 is generally stored in the machine and used, and toner is gradually replenished. Further, the waste toner collection container is also stored and used within the machine until a specified amount of toner is collected into the container.

By the way, since copying machines and the like use halogen lamps as light sources for image formation, the temperature inside the machine rises to 50 to 60 degrees Celsius, and the area around the fixing device, which has a heat source, reaches ioo'
exposed to high temperatures exceeding c. In particular, if an abnormality occurs in the fixing device, the inside of the machine may become overripe and the ignition point of paper or the like may be exceeded. On the other hand, since the toner container installed in the developing device is made of paper or a thin plastic cylinder as described above, there is a danger that it may over ripen while stored in the machine and cause a fire. Therefore, fire prevention measures for the toner container are an urgent issue, and a solution is strongly desired in the industry, but at present no solution has been found yet.

[Means to solve the problem]

(Objective of the Invention) The object of the present invention is to provide a container that can be detachably attached to an electrostatic recording device such as a copying machine, is low-cost, and can be easily handled with one touch. It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner container that is free from the risk of this occurring.

(Structure of the Invention) The above object is to provide a toner container of a type that is stored and used in an electrostatic recording device such as a copying machine, in which the container body of the toner container is made of a member treated with flame retardant material. Sane,
This can also be achieved by using a toner container that is provided with a self-extinguishing effect.

(Specific Structure of the Invention and Its Effects) The toner container of the present invention is removably installed in various electrostatic recording devices such as electrophotographic copying machines, electrostatic transfer copying machines, electrostatic printing machines, and printers. It is stored in the machine during copying.

Further, the toner container of the present invention includes a toner cartridge for replenishing toner to the developing device of the various recording devices, and a container for collecting waste toner discharged from the cleaning device, and the toner contained in the container is composed of toner and a carrier. The toner may be a two-component developer consisting of the above-described magnetic toner, or the magnetic toner may be a one-component developer containing magnetic toner as a main component.

Examples of toner cartridges suitable for the present invention are shown in FIG.
2, 3, and 4, the specific structure of the container, the method of mounting the developing device, and its operation will be fully explained based on them.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the torch cartridge 2o.
Reference numeral 1 denotes a container body having a hollow cylindrical shape, both ends of which are open, and one of the openings is closed by a 7 flange 22. Further, an elongated opening 21a is cut in the cylindrical side wall surface in the longitudinal direction, and serves as a toner discharge and fall opening.
ing. The 7-lunge 22 is provided with a knob 22a for rotating the cartridge 20 for attaching and detaching the cartridge 20 to and from the developing device and for replenishing toner. Further, on the outer circumference of the flange 22, a first protrusion 22c protrudes outward from the end of the container body 21, and a second protrusion 22c protrudes radially outward from the end of the container body 21. A protrusion 22b is provided.

The opening 21a of the container body 21 has a flexible sealing member 2.
4 to prevent leakage of toner during storage or installation of the cartridge 20.

The sealing member 24 has a length approximately 1.5 times the length of the opening 21a in the longitudinal direction, and first seals the opening 21a and then closes the opening 21. It is folded back to the middle of a and is glued and fixed to the outer wall of the container body 21.

The toner cartridge 20 is filled with toner from the opening that is not closed by the seven lunges 22 of the container body.
Thereafter, the 7-lunge 23 is press-fitted into the opening and sealed.

Next, each member constituting the one-naker cartridge will be explained. First, the container body 20 is, for example, an elongated cylindrical body with a thickness of 0.5 to 2IIIll made by winding kraft paper multiple times in a spiral shape, or a slender cylinder with a thickness of 0.5 to 3IIIll+ formed by pressure molding.
! A thick plastic cylinder or the like is used.

Among them, the paper cylinder is preferably used because it is lightweight and inexpensive, and the cylinder formed by rolling up the paper has a practical mechanical strength. FIG. 2(A) is a sectional view illustrating the situation when the sealing member 24 adhered to the opening 21a of the container body 21 made of a paper cylinder is peeled off. In FIG. 2(a), 21b is a surface coating layer which prevents the paper cylinder from absorbing moisture and also prevents the paper from becoming fluffy. Also 2
1c is a front paper layer which may be a metal layer such as a zinc, tin or aluminum layer together with the surface coat layer 21b.

Reference numeral 21b is made by rolling up kraft paper or the like to form the skeleton of the paper cylinder, and is usually called a liner paper layer, in which a plurality of layers are laminated. Reference numeral 21e is a layer for preventing moisture absorption in the paper cylinder, and may be a vapor-deposited or laminated layer of aluminum, zinc, tin, etc., or a laminated layer of polyethylene, nylon, etc.

21f is an adhesive layer between the respective layers.

Next, in FIG. 2 (opening), 21g is the sealing member 2.
The sealing member 24 is a hot melt layer provided on the back surface of the surface coating layer 21b, and the sealing member 24 is melt-bonded to the surface of the surface coating layer 21b by heating via the core layer. When the seal member 24 is peeled off from the surface layer coating, it is easily peeled off from the hot melt layer 21g.

In the present invention, in order to impart flame retardancy to the toner container, at least one of the constituent layers shown in FIG. 2(a) contains a flame retardant having self-extinguishing properties. It is extremely important that the toner container is flame retardant in order to ensure the safety of copying machines and other devices against fire.
This is a feature of the present invention.

A typical example of such a flame retardant is a phosphoric acid compound. The flame retardant effect of the phosphoric acid compound is not necessarily clear.
However, the compound melts into a glassy state due to heat L' J
! Create an i-film to cover combustible materials to block oxygen and prevent combustion. Furthermore, thermal decomposition of phosphoric acid compounds produces NH3 gas and CO! It is presumed that this is because it also exhibits self-extinguishing properties that stop combustion by generating gas, H80 gas, etc.

Examples of the phosphorus compounds include (1) TRPC (tetrakis hydroxymethylphosphonium chloride) (CH20H), PCI (2) ammonium polyphosphate (Sumisafe P manufactured by Sumitomo Chemical Co., Ltd.) (3) condensed phosphoric acid ester (Meisho Chemical Co., Ltd.) Kogyo Co., Ltd. Hoscon F
R-30) (4) Organic phosphorus sulfur compound used in combination with phenol resin for impregnation (Furan #1073 manufactured by Daiwa Chemical Co., Ltd.) (5) Condensed phosphoric acid amide (Furan #1041 manufactured by Daiwa Chemical-L Gyo Co., Ltd.) (6) Organic Phosphorous nitrogen compound (Claim Guard 5316 S, N, manufactured by Dainippon Ink Chemical Industries, Ltd.) (7) Commercially available ammonium phosphate salts and the like.

Next, there are flame retardants and chlorides. In this case, since chlorine is nonflammable, it stops the combustion reaction of the combustible material.

As the chlorine compound, (1) chlorinated polyolefin (FS-1 manufactured by Asahi Denka Co., Ltd.
) (2) Chlorinated paraffin (Enno (U4) manufactured by Ajinomoto Co., Ltd.
0, Ember Bu 70) Other flame retardants include guanidine compounds, which are used in the form of sulfamates or phosphates, and when heated, generate nonflammable gas to stop combustion.

Still another flame retardant is antimony trioxide, which melts during the early stages of combustion and coats the combustible material, blocking oxygen. At high temperatures, 5b203 gas is generated and exhibits self-extinguishing properties.

Manufacturers are Nippon Mining, Mitsubishi Metals, Sumitomo Metals, Nihon Seiko,
It is manufactured and sold by companies such as Hibino Metal and Kingdom Refining.

The following various flame retardants are added to at least one of the constituent layers of the container body 21 made of a paper cylinder shown in FIG. For example, the liner paper is contained in the range of 5 to 4 (ht%).If it is less than 5wt%, the flame retardancy will be insufficient, and if it exceeds 40vt%, the adhesion between layers or the processability of the layers will decrease. Alternatively, in order to include a flame retardant in the cover, etc., it can be added to the pulp of the material before paper making, or it can be added along with paper fillers during the paper making process, or it can be impregnated into the paper surface after processing. Good too.

In addition, in order to include the flame retardant in the surface coating layer or adhesive layer, the flame retardant for the layer may be added to the adhesive and used in the surface coating liquid forming the layer. .

Next, the plunger 2 closes the openings at both ends of the ``S'' device body 21.
The materials forming 2.23 include, for example, polygotyre:/, polymeropine, polychloride beure, etc., plus books, etc.
or partially made of metal material 9, flexible sealing member 2
For 4 and 12, 5 polyethylene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, -ruvinylide, nylon, polyvinyl chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyester, etc.) are used as glue film materials and aluminum foil. It is formed as a single layer material or a laminated material using metal materials such as these.The flexible seal member 24 requires a material and film thickness that is flexible and has tensile strength and bending strength. It is.

Further, the flexible sealing member 24 may be adhered to the container body 21 by double-sided adhesive tape, adhesive, or the like, in addition to the thermal fusion of the hot melt layer.

Next, the toner replenishing section of the developing device into which the toner cartridge 20 is loaded will be explained. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the loaded state of the toner cartridge 20, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing the toner replenishing state by the toner cartridge 20 loaded in the toner replenishing section. Further, FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the vicinity of the supply container insertion hole of the toner supply section.

A toner replenishment section 90 as shown in FIG. 4 is provided at the upper side of the developing device, and the toner cartridge 20 can be inserted into and removed from the replenishment container insertion hole 90a of the toner replenishment section 90. There is. The toner cartridge 20 is the third
As shown in the figure, the container main body 21 is inserted into the main container insertion hole 90a with the opening 21a facing upward. At this time, the flexible seal member 24 is peeled off.

In FIG. 5, the vicinity of the open end of the supply container insertion hole 90a is provided with a mounting portion 90d formed by projecting the lower part of the cylindrical wall of the insertion hole 90a outward. A retaining groove 90e is provided at the base of the mounting portion 90d. Also, the upper mounting part 9
Both ends of 0d constitute an initial stop surface 90e and an after-operation stop surface 90f.

A toner replenishment container lO is placed on the placement portion 90d of the toner replenishment portion 90.
After making preparations such as peeling off the flexible sealing member 24 with the opening 21a facing upward, the toner cartridge 20 is removed from the toner supply container without being rotated from side to side. Insert into the insertion hole 90a. At this time, hold the knob 22a with your fingers. Opening 2
If 1a is facing directly upward, the first of 7 lunges 22
The initial contact portion 22d of the protrusion 22c is brought into contact with the initial stop surface 90e of the placement portion 90d. When the toner cartridge is inserted into the supply container insertion hole 90a, the direction of the opening 21a cannot be confirmed until the end of the insertion. However, as described above, if adjustment is made so that the initial contact portion 22d and the initial stop surface 90s are in contact with each other, the opening 2
1a is facing directly upward.

When the insertion of the toner cartridge 20 is completed, the second protrusion 22b of the flange 22 and the engagement groove 9 at the base of the mounting portion 90d
It becomes possible to engage with 0c. The engagement groove 90c is the mounting portion 90
After the operation of d, from the stop surface 90f side to the initial stop surface 9
0e, and the toner cartridge 20 is inserted into the supply container insertion hole 90a of the toner supply section 90.
This is a sliding guide groove when rotating by 80'. When the second protrusion 22b and the engagement groove 90c are engaged, the toner cartridge 20 cannot be pulled out.

When the toner cartridge 20 is rotated by 180 degrees as described above, the actuated light contact portion 22d of the first protrusion 22c of the flange 22 comes into contact with the actuated stop surface 90f of the receiver 9. There is.

In this way, insert the toner cartridge 20 in its axial direction [7. However, when the container body 21 is rotated 1806 degrees counterclockwise, the opening 21a of the container body 21 faces straight down as shown in FIG. be done.

When the toner in the toner storage section 90b is consumed and it becomes necessary to replenish toner, the toner cartridge 20 is completely replaced. Rotate the toner cartridge 20 180° clockwise. Then, the opening 21a of the container body 21 faces directly upward. In this state, the engagement between the second protrusion 22b of the seventh flange 22 and the engagement groove 90e at the base of the IR placement portion 90d is released, allowing the toner cartridge 20 to be pulled out.

When the toner cartridge 20 is pulled out in this state, the opening 21a faces directly upward, and even if some toner remains inside the toner cartridge 20, it will not leak outside.

After that, the new toner cartridge 20 can be installed according to the above-described installation procedure for the toner cartridge 20.

In the above description, a toner cartridge having a circular cross section was shown, but the toner cartridge is not necessarily limited to this.
The cross section may be rectangular, trapezoidal, rhombic, oval, triangular, etc.1. In terms of ease of stamping, workability, mechanical strength, etc., those having a circular cross section are preferably used. Furthermore, although the toner cartridge has been described in the above description, the waste toner collection container may also have a substantially similar construction, and if space permits, it is preferable that the toner cartridge can be used as a waste toner collection container.

However, when used as a waste toner collection container, the sealing member 24 is unnecessary, and the waste toner can be collected by inserting the opening 21a upward into the toner discharge hole of the cleaning device in the main body of the device. You can either pull it out and dispose of it, or just discard the toner and reuse it.

Here, the flame retardant test method for the toner container of the present invention is Test V based on the American National Standard Company's flammability test standard UL948B-1985, which was established in September 1972 and revised in January 1985. It is preferable to

The test method is shown in Figure 6, in which a sample 15 inches wide by 5 inches long is supported horizontally by a sample support device, and one end of the sample is heated for 30 seconds with a specified burner tilted at 45 degrees. The combustion is observed after the burner is removed until the combustion is extinguished. The position (in inches) at which the fire was extinguished is then read. As a result, if the sample burns up to point E, which is 4 inches from point A on the right end, it is rejected, and it is preferable that the sample burns to a point of 3 inches or less. The Naori point and the 0 point are points 1 inch and 2 inches from the A point.

FIG. 7 shows, as an example, a sectional view of an electrophotographic copying machine that stores the toner cartridge and waste toner collection container of the present invention and performs image formation.

The outline of the image forming process will be explained based on the figure.

The image carrier 31 is constructed by depositing or coating a photoconductive photosensitive agent on a conductive support cylinder to form a photosensitive layer. 32 is a charger provided above and close to the image carrier 31. As shown in FIG. The charging charger 32 performs corona discharge to sequentially charge the image carrier 31 as the image carrier 31 rotates. A pre-exposure lamp 33 and an erasing LED 34 are provided before and after the charger 32 for adjusting the surface potential of the image carrier 31, respectively.

Image carrier 31 is then exposed at exposure position 35 . For exposure, an exposure lamp 37 movably supported near the document table 36 provided on the top surface of the apparatus illuminates the document tray on the document table 36, and the light image of the document from the document tray is sent to the reflecting mirrors Ml, !
2. Image carrier l via M3, lens 38, and reflecting mirror M4
This is performed by irradiating and imaging the upper exposure position 35. By irradiating and forming the original light image, the image carrier 31
An electrostatic latent image corresponding to the optical image of the original is formed on the photosensitive layer.

The image carrier 31 carrying the electrostatic latent image corresponding to the optical image of the original is developed by the developing device [39, and the toner cartridge 2
It is visualized by toner replenished from 0. The image carrier 31 carrying the toner image reaches the transfer section and transfers the toner image onto the fed transfer paper P. The transfer paper P is sent out from the paper feed cassette 41 by the delivery roll 42 and guided by the guide plate to the timing roll 4.
3. Here, the transfer paper P is fed in synchronization with the toner image on the image carrier 31 by the cooperation of the timing roll 43 and the registration shutter 44.

The transfer paper P supplied to the transfer section is brought into close contact with the surface of the image carrier, and a toner image is transferred by being subjected to corona discharge from behind by a transfer pole 45 having a polarity opposite to that of the toner.

The transfer paper P on which the toner image has been transferred is separated from the image carrier l by a separation pole 46 and a separation claw 47, and then transferred to the fixing device 4.
8, the image is fixed, and the paper is ejected.

On the other hand, the image carrier 31 from which the transfer paper P has been separated is cleaned of residual toner on its surface by the cleaning device 50, and returns to its original state.

Thereafter, the image forming operation is repeated by the same operation as described above.

Note that the cleaning device 50 includes a cleaning blade 51. A waste toner chamber 52 in which the waste toner scraped off by the blade 51 is accumulated, a screw conveyor 53 for transporting the waste toner in the waste toner chamber, a waste toner collection container 54 for collecting the waste toner transported by the conveyor 53, and a waste toner chamber 52 for collecting waste toner scraped by the blade 51; Waste toner collection container insertion hole 5 for receiving toner collection container 54
It consists of 5. Here, the waste toner collection container 54 has a smaller diameter than the toner cartridge 20 but has a similar structure, and is made of a removable paper or plastic cylinder. As described above, this waste toner collection container is inserted into the insertion hole 55 with the opening facing upward, and
After collecting enough waste toner, it is pulled out and disposed of or reused.

With the above configuration, toner replenishment to the developing device and waste toner collection can be accomplished with one touch without contaminating the inside of the machine due to toner leakage by skillfully utilizing the small space inside the machine. . In particular, even if the toner cartridge and toner collection container are stored and used in the machine for a long time, there is no risk of trouble such as fire, and copying operations can be continued with peace of mind.

Although the structure of the toner container was explained with reference to FIG.
The structure of the toner container is not limited to this; for example, structures described in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 60-35076, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 61-37008, and JP-A-58-17378 may be used. good. Furthermore, Utility Application No. 62-189221 and Utility Application No. 62-19 filed earlier by the present applicant.
No. 2466, Jitsugan Showa No. 63-19386, Special Application No. 1938
It may be of the structure described in each specification of No. 1320694. However, it is an essential requirement that the container body be subjected to the flame retardant treatment described above.

〔Example〕

EXAMPLES The present invention will be specifically explained below with reference to Examples, but the embodiments of the present invention are not limited thereto.

(Example 1) Figure 8 (a) made of laminated liner paper (kraft paper)
A cylindrical body with a circular cross section having the layer structure of ~(d) is attached to the container body 2.
A toner cartridge having the structure shown in FIG. 2 was prepared. Note that the adhesive layer contains 3Qwt% vinyl acetate in the adhesive.
20vt% ammonium polyphosphate in the emulsion of
and/or the surface coating layer contains the ammonium polyphosphate in the surface coating agent.
It is formed using a material containing 0wL%, and is imparted with flame retardancy.

Further, the sealing member 24 that blocks the opening 21a formed in the container body 21 of the toner cartridge 20 is formed by providing a thin layer of polyethylene on the back side of a polyester film.
A hot-melt layer (a copolymer of wax and ethylene vinyl acetate) was provided on the lower surface.

Also, the container body 21 of the created toner cartridge 20
The size of the cylinder is 280n+m in length, 4611+1 in outer diameter, and ln+m in thickness of the cylindrical body, and the amount of toner accommodated is about 11g.

The toner cartridge 20 is Konica 129 manufactured by Konica Corporation.
0 and was used for about 3 months by storing it inside the machine until the toner was consumed, but safe operation was confirmed with no contamination inside the machine due to toner leakage and no problems such as fires occurring. . Also, cut the container body 21 to a width of 0.5 inch,
A sample with a length of 5.0 inches was prepared and the UL as explained in Fig. 6 above was applied.
As a result of a combustion test using a test method based on 94HB,
Right end starting point A in a 30 second combustion test with a specified burner
The fire burned to the center between point C at 2 inches and point B at j inch, but the fire was extinguished immediately after the burner was removed. Passing point is starting point A
It has been confirmed that the safety is extremely high because it is less than 4 inches from point E.

The paper cylinder is made by spirally winding aluminum foil, adhesive-applied first liner paper, second liner paper, third liner paper, and cover on a hollow cylinder. was formed. Note that the paper used for forming the surface layer was one to which a surface coating layer was previously applied.

(Example 2) The container body 21 was the same as Example 1, except that the layer structure was as shown in FIG. 9, and condensed phosphoric acid amide (7 run #1041, manufactured by Daiwa Chemical Industries, Ltd.) was used as the flame retardant. A toner cartridge was produced in the same manner as in Example 1, except that a toner cartridge produced in the same manner was used. A test similar to that in Example 1 was conducted using this toner cartridge, and as a result, high safety against fire was confirmed.

In the combustion test, the fire only reached point B, which is 1 inch from point A, and the fire extinguished immediately after the burner was removed.

(Example 3) The layer structure of the container body 21 was as shown in Fig. 1θ, and condensed phosphoric acid amide (furan #10 manufactured by Daiwa Chemical Industries, Ltd.) was used as a flame retardant.
A toner cartridge was prepared in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the flame retardant was not contained in the adhesive layer, but was contained in the laminated liner paper layer to impart flame retardancy. . Various tests similar to those in Example 1 were conducted using this toner cartridge, and as a result, high safety against fire was confirmed.

Further, the flame retardant is contained in the liner paper making process,
I purchased and used liner paper that had been treated with flame retardant treatment. In addition, in the combustion test mentioned above, it was about 1.1 from the 8 point which was 1 inch from the A point.
5f=j amount was burned, but the fire was immediately extinguished as the fuel was removed.

(Example 4) Example 1 except that a 1 mm thick polypropylene cylinder containing antimony trioxide as a flame retardant was used instead of the paper cylinder.
A toner cartridge was created in the same manner. Various tests similar to those in Example 1 were conducted using this toner cartridge, and as a result, high safety against fire was confirmed as in each of the aforementioned Examples. In the combustion test, the flame was burned to point C, which is 2 inches from point A, and after the burner was removed, the flame continued to burn for a while, and the fire was extinguished after burning to 1/3 inch from point C, which was 2 inches.

(Example 5) A paper cylinder with the same layer structure as Example 1 with an outer diameter of 40 mm and a thickness of 1
A waste toner collection container having the same structure as in Example 1 was created using a container body of 11 ml, and this was replaced with Konica 129 manufactured by Konica Corporation.
It was attached to the collection container insertion hole of the cleaning device of a modified 0 machine (modified to use a waste toner collector type) and used for 3 months, but there was no contamination inside the machine due to toner leakage, and there were no accidents such as fires. There were no incidents, and safety was confirmed.

In the combustion test, the same results as in Example 1 were obtained.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As is clear from the above description, the toner container of the present invention can be easily attached to and removed from a developing device such as a copying machine and operated without causing toner leakage, and is inexpensive and suitable for use in a sufficient machine. It has the advantage that there is no risk of fire or the like even when it is stored and used inside an aircraft.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of the toner cartridge of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view for explaining the layer structure of the cylinder (container body) of the toner cartridge, and Fig. g3 shows how to replenish the toner cartridge in the developing device. A perspective view for explaining the state when installing the toner cartridge into the container insertion hole, Figure 4 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which toner supplied from a toner storage unit of a developing device is transported to a developing unit. Furthermore, FIG. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of the vicinity of the entrance of the replenishment container insertion hole, FIG. 6 is a front view for explaining the combustion test method, and FIG. FIG. 8 to FIG. 11 are cross-sectional views for explaining the layer structure of the container body of the toner container used in each implementation;
The figure is a sectional view of a conventionally known toner cartridge and a developing device in which the cartridge is installed. 20... Toner cartridge 21... Container body 21a... Opening 21b
...Surface coat layer 21c...Cover layer 21d...
Liner paper layer 218...metal layer 22.23...7
Lunge 22a...Knob 24...Seal member
31... Image forming body 39... Developing device 5
0...Cleaning device 51...Cleaning blade 52...Waste toner chamber 53...Waste toner transport conveyor 54...Waste toner collection container 55...Collection container insertion hole Applicant Konica Corporation No. 2 Figure (/I) (b) Figure 3

Claims (4)

[Claims] (1) A toner container of a type that is stored and used in an electrostatic recording device such as a copying machine, characterized in that the container body of the toner container is made of a member subjected to flame-retardant treatment. toner container. (2) The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the flame-retardant member has self-extinguishing properties. (3) The toner container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the toner container is a toner cartridge that supplies toner to a developing device of the electrostatic recording device. (4) The toner container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the toner container is a toner collection container for collecting waste toner discharged from a cleaning device of the electrostatic recording device.