JPH0263080A - Toner cassette, picture recorder mounted therewith, and its attaching/detaching method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To improve operability and to prevent contamination caused by toner by carrying magnetic toner filled up in the toner cassette main body to the toner discharge opening of the toner cassette main body with the aid of magnetic force. CONSTITUTION:When a cover 11a is moved in the arrow C direction against the energizing force of spring member of the toner cassette 11, the toner discharge opening of the toner cassette 11 is opened and magnetic toner 5 inside of the toner cassette 11 is supplied to the picture recorder. By rotating cylindrical magnets 67a-67c, the magnetic toner 5 is attracted by the magnetic force of the cylindrical magnets 67a-67c and moves in the arrow C direction inside of the toner cassette 11. Consecutively, the magnetic toner 5 reaches the toner discharge opening and is supplied to the picture recorder. Thus, since the magnetic toner does not scatter inside of the recorder, contamination caused by the magnetic toner can be prevented.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention provides a toner cassette with excellent operability for magnetic toner and less contamination by toner, an image recording apparatus to which the toner cassette is installed, and a method for attaching and detaching the toner cassette. Regarding.

[Conventional technology]

Recording devices that use toner include those that form a latent image on a recording medium using light irradiation or a stylus electrode, and then obtain a developed image on the recording medium through a development process, or those that directly generate a developed image using a stylus electrode, etc. There is a method of obtaining the developed image onto a recording medium, and a transfer process in which a toner image is obtained from the recording medium to a recording paper by means such as corona transfer or roller transfer. For the toner cassette in the above-mentioned recording apparatus, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 57-154255, the toner storage section and the waste toner storage section can be integrated into a unit to facilitate the replacement of consumables. It is known that this was done.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above conventional example, the unit is configured to include a recording medium, and sufficient consideration has not been given to operability and means for preventing toner contamination when the unit is formed as a unit that does not include a recording medium. .

Further, in the conventional example described above, since the recording medium is included as a unit, sufficient consideration has not been given to reducing the cost of the toner cassette as a unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a toner cassette that can reduce the cost of a toner cassette used as a consumable item, improve operability, and prevent contamination by toner, and an image recording device equipped with the toner cassette. This invention relates to a method for attaching and detaching a toner cassette.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the toner cassette of the present invention is installed in a recording apparatus main body that forms a developed image with magnetic toner on a recording medium, and supplies magnetic toner to the recording apparatus main body. The present invention is characterized in that a conveying means is provided for conveying the magnetic toner filled in the main body to the toner discharge port of the toner cassette main body using magnetic force.

Further, the image recording apparatus of the present invention includes a toner discharge port of a toner cassette main body filled with magnetic toner, and a toner discharging port provided in the recording device main body that forms a developed image on a recording medium and connected to the toner discharge port. Each of the supply ports is provided with a slidable lid, the toner cassette main body has an engaging portion that engages with the lid of the toner supply port to open and close the lid, and the recording device main body has an engaging portion that engages with the lid of the toner supply port to open and close the lid. The device is characterized in that engaging portions are respectively provided that engage with the lids of the discharge ports to open and close the lids.

Further, in the toner cassette attachment/detachment method of the present invention, when connecting a toner cassette body filled with magnetic toner and a recording apparatus body that forms a developed image on a recording medium,
First, open the toner supply port cover of the recording device main body, and then open the toner discharge port cover of the toner cassette main body.When removing the toner cassette main body from the recording device main body, first, the toner supply port of the toner cassette main body is removed. It is characterized in that the supply port cover is closed, and then the discharge port cover of the toner cassette body is closed.

[Effect]

According to the above configuration, the magnetic toner in the toner cassette main body is always moved toward the toner ejection port by the conveying means,
It is possible to prevent mechanical force from acting on the magnetic toner. Therefore, it is possible to prevent deterioration of the magnetic toner. Further, since no magnetic toner remains in the toner cassette, the efficiency of using magnetic toner can be improved.

In addition, when installing the toner cassette into the recording device main body, first open the toner supply port cover of the printing device using the engaging part provided on the toner cassette main body, and then open the toner discharge port cover of the toner cassette main body. is opened by an engaging portion provided on the recording apparatus main body to connect the toner discharge port and the toner supply port. This prevents the magnetic toner from scattering into the main body of the recording apparatus, thereby preventing contamination caused by the magnetic toner.

Furthermore, when removing the toner cassette from the recording apparatus main body, first close the toner supply port cover of the printing apparatus, and then close the toner discharge port of the toner cassette main body.

〔Example〕

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

FIG. 1 shows a state in which a toner cassette according to the present invention is loaded into a recording apparatus. In the figure, ceramic substrate 1
A plurality of independent recording electrodes 2 made by a thick film process and arranged in a row are provided on the surface of the recording electrode. The ceramic substrate 1 is placed close to the hollow developing drum 10 with a gap of about 100 μm at the end on the recording section side. The developing drum 10 has a conductive portion 10a and a thickness of 1 to
It is composed of an insulating layer 10b having a thickness of about 100 μm.

A permanent magnet (not shown) is disposed inside the developing drum 10 or on the opposite side of the electrode 2 of the ceramic substrate 1, and a magnetic flux is formed.

Further, a transfer roller 4 is provided on the side of the developing drum 10, and this transfer roller 4 is urged toward the developing drum 10 by a spring member (not shown). The recording paper 3 is held between the developing drum 10 and the transfer roller 4 while the developing drum 10 and the transfer roller 4 rotate as shown by the arrows.

Further, below the developing drum 1o, a cylindrical magnet 7a fitted in the sleeve 7b and a screw conveyor 8a inserted in the cover 8b are arranged. The magnet 7a is rotatable together with the sleeve 7b in the direction of the arrow.

A toner receiver 6 is provided below the ceramic substrate 1, the magnet 7a, and the screw conveyor 8a, and a magnet 9a is provided on the toner receiver 6. A cover 90 extends from the magnet 9a to the electrode 2 of the ceramic substrate 1. A covered screw conveyor 9b is erected.

In the above configuration, when a voltage is applied to the electrode 2 by a pulse drive circuit (not shown), a positive charge is applied to the conductive magnetic toner 5 supplied to the hopper section on the electrode 2. As a result, charges of different polarities are induced in the magnetic toner 5 and the conductive portion 10a sandwiching the insulating layer 10b of the developing drum 10. These two charges attract each other due to Coulomb force,
Magnetic toner 5 is attracted to developing drum 10 . Further, as the developing drum 10 rotates, the attracted magnetic toner 5
The toner passes through the gap between the electric current Irl7A2 and the developing drum 10, and a toner image of the charged toner is formed on the developing drum 10.

A negative charge is applied to the transfer roller 4, and the developed image on the developing drum 10 is transferred onto the recording paper 3 by electric attraction. Here, no charge is applied to the portion of the electrode 2 to which the voltage of the pulse drive circuit is not applied, that is, the magnetic toner 5 on the background portion of the image. but,
The magnetic toner 5 stored in this area also appears on the developing drum 1.
0 rotation, the toner passes through the gap between the electrode 2 and the developing drum 10 and adheres to the developing drum 10, causing fogging or leaking into the toner receiver 6. On the other hand, after the developed image is transferred from the developing drum 10 onto the recording paper 3, the magnetic toner 5 remaining on the developing drum 10 without being transferred is
As the developing drum 10 rotates, the developing drum 10 returns to the hopper section above the electrode 2 and is used in the above-described developing process.

Here, the supply and replenishment of the magnetic toner 5 used in the development/transfer process is performed by loading the toner cassette 11 filled with the magnetic toner 5 into the image recording apparatus. The magnetic toner 5 supplied from the toner cassette 11 is transported below the screw conveyor 9b.
are attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet 9a installed on the outer periphery of the conveyor 9b, and are accumulated below the screw conveyor 9b. A part of the accumulated magnetic toner 5 enters into the cover 9c provided on the outer periphery of the screw conveyor 9b, and is removed.

The rotation of the screw conveyor 9b transports the inside of the cover 9c in the axial direction (upward) of the screw conveyor 9b. The transported magnetic toner 5 is supplied to a hopper section above the electrode 2. Further, excess magnetic toner 5 in the background part of the image adhering to the developing drum 10 is deposited on the developing drum 10 behind the electrode 2.
It is attracted by the magnetic force of the cylindrical magnet 7a, which is arranged parallel to the cylindrical magnet 7a and has a plurality of N and S poles magnetized on the circumference, and is removed from the developing drum 10 and placed on the outer periphery of the cylindrical magnet 7a. It adheres to the surface of the non-magnetic sleeve 7b. When the cylindrical magnet 7a or the sleeve 7b is rotated, the sleeve 7
The magnetic toner 5 attached to the surface b moves in the circumferential direction on the surface of the sleeve 7b, is stopped by a stopper (not shown) provided on the sleeve 7b, and accumulates on the upper part of the stopper.

The accumulated magnetic toner 5 enters the screw conveyor 8a through an opening in a cover 8b provided on the outer periphery of the screw conveyor 8a, which is installed in parallel with and close to the cylindrical magnet 7a. The magnetic toner 5 that has entered the screw conveyor 8a is conveyed within the cover 8b in one direction in the axial direction of the screw conveyor 8a by rotating the screw conveyor 8a, and is collected at one end of the screw conveyor 8a.

The collected magnetic toner 5 is conveyed by the screw conveyor 9b in the same manner as described above, is again supplied to the hopper section above the electrode 2, and is used for image formation by the above-described development and transfer process.

Next, the detailed structure of the toner cassette will be explained using FIGS. 2 to 4. FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the toner cassette 11 seen from the side when the toner cassette 11 is loaded into the image recording device, FIG. 3 is a view seen from the toner discharge port of the toner cassette 11, and FIG. 4 is the image recording device. FIG. 3 is a view seen from the toner supply port.

A toner cassette 11 is filled with magnetic toner 5 . At the toner discharge port of the toner cassette 11.

A packing member 11b that seals the toner, a lid lla that is movable in the lateral direction, a spring member lid that restrains the movement of the lid lla, and the spring member 1 provided on the lid lla.
A bracket 11e for fixing the spring member lid is provided, and a bracket ll'c for fixing the spring member lid is also provided on the toner cassette 11 main body side. Also, bracket l
ie also has a function as an engaging member that hooks and moves a lid 63 provided on the image recording device.

On the other hand, magnetic toner 5 is also supplied to the toner supply port of the image recording device.
A sealing member 66 for sealing, a lid 63 that is movable laterally, a spring member 65 for restraining the movement of the lid 63, and a bracket 64b provided on the lid 63 for fixing the spring member 65 are provided. A bracket 64a for fixing the spring member 65 is also provided on the recording apparatus main body side. Further, the image recording apparatus main body is provided with an engaging member 62 that hooks and moves the lid lla provided on the toner cassette 11. Toner cassette 1 of the image recording device main body
Cylindrical magnets 67a, 67b, and 67 serving as conveyance means each have a plurality of N poles and S poles magnetized on the circumference.
c is provided.

Next, the operation when loading the toner cassette 11 into the image recording apparatus and the operation of the cylindrical magnets 67a, 67b, and 67c will be described. When loading the 1-ner cassette 11 into the image recording device in the direction of arrow A, first, the bracket l'
lc corresponds to a part of the lid 63 provided in the image recording apparatus, and as the toner cassette 11 moves, the lid 63 is moved in the direction of arrow B against the biasing force of the spring member 65, and the toner of the image recording apparatus is removed. The supply port opens. Furthermore, the toner cassette 11
When moved in the direction of arrow A, the engaging member 62 hits a part of the lid lla provided on the toner cassette 11, and as the toner cassette 11 moves, the lid lla is moved against the biasing force of the spring member lid. When the toner cassette 11 is moved in the direction of arrow C, the toner discharge port of the toner cassette 11 opens, and the toner cassette 11
The magnetic toner 5 inside is supplied to the image recording device. By rotating the cylindrical magnets 67a, 67b and 67c, the magnetic toner 5 in the toner cassette 11 is attracted by the magnetic force of the cylindrical magnets 67a, 67b and 67c.
The toner moves in the direction of the arrow within the toner cassette 11, reaches the toner discharge port, and is supplied to the image recording apparatus.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are diagrams showing other embodiments of the present invention.

In these figures, the same reference numerals as in FIG. 2 indicate the same members. Figure 5 shows a magnetic belt instead of a cylindrical magnet.
This is an example using i. The magnetic belt lli is driven by a motor (not shown) provided in the image recording device. The magnetic belt 11i is hung around the pulleys lie and llf, and the pulleys lie and llf are connected to the pulley shafts 11g and 1f.
It is rotatably attached around 1h. The magnetic belt lli is rotated by using one of the pulley shafts 11g and llh as a driving shaft and the other as a driven shaft. The magnetic toner in the toner cassette 11 is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnetic belt lli and moves within the toner cassette 11 in the direction of arrow E.
The toner reaches the toner discharge port and is supplied to the image recording device.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing an example in which the magnetic belt 110 is provided inside the toner cassette 11. The magnetic belt 110 is driven by a motor (not shown) provided in the image recording device. The magnetic belt 110 is hung around pulleys llk and llr, and the pulleys llk and llr are connected to pulley shafts 11m and llr.
It is rotatably attached around n. Pulley shaft 1
The magnetic belt llo is rotated by using one of 1m and lln as a driving shaft and the other as a driven shaft. The magnetic toner in the toner cassette 11 is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnetic belt 110, moves within the toner cassette 11 in the direction of arrow F, is separated from the magnetic belt 11o by the remover lip, and reaches the toner ejection port, where it reaches the image recording device. is supplied to

According to the embodiment of the present invention described above, since the magnetic toner does not scatter inside the recording device, contamination by the magnetic toner 5 can be prevented. Further, since the magnetic toner 5 in the toner cassette 11 is always moved to the toner discharge port by the moving means using magnetic force, it is possible to prevent the magnetic toner 5 from remaining in the toner cassette 11.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, since magnetic toner does not scatter inside the recording device, contamination due to magnetic toner can be prevented. In addition, 1. Since the magnetic toner in the toner cassette 11 is always moved to the toner discharge port by means of a conveying means using magnetic force, it is possible to prevent magnetic toner from remaining in the toner cassette.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a toner cassette according to the present invention installed in a recording device, Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the toner cassette, Fig. 3 is a bottom view showing the toner discharge port, and Fig. 4 is a toner supply. A plan view showing the opening, and FIGS. 5 and 6 are sectional views of toner cassettes showing other embodiments of the present invention. DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Ceramic substrate, 2... Electrode, 3... Recording paper, 4... Transfer roller, 5... Magnetic toner 6...
Toner receiver, 7a...Magnet, 8a...Screw conveyor, 1o...Developing drum, 11...Toner cassette. 1st b 1, Jibugu Kuji 1 Kuta 27 Shita 3: j Shitashi 3 4 tt Otsu Kurita 5.6 About Tanme- Figure 6: Memera Atsunoa a: 1d5 10: Tabei 4p no ~ Tayo 11, Tsume-j! Gori/

Claims (1)

[Scope of Claims] 1. In a toner cassette that is attached to a recording device main body that forms a developed image using magnetic toner on a recording medium and supplies magnetic toner to the recording device main body, the magnetic toner filled in the toner cassette main body A toner cassette characterized in that a toner cassette is provided with a conveying means for conveying the toner to a toner discharge port of a toner cassette main body using magnetic force. 2. The toner cassette according to claim 1, wherein the conveying means is a rotatably driven cylindrical magnet provided outside the toner cassette body and having a plurality of north poles and south poles arranged alternately on the circumference. A toner cassette comprising: 3. The toner cassette according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance means is provided outside the toner cassette body and comprises a moving magnetic belt. 4. The toner cassette according to claim 1, wherein the conveyance means is provided inside the toner cassette body and comprises a moving magnetic belt. 5. A toner supply port provided in the toner discharge port of the toner cassette body filled with magnetic toner and the toner supply port connected to the toner discharge port provided in the recording apparatus main body that forms a developed image on a recording medium is slidable. The toner cassette body has an engaging part that engages with the toner supply port lid to open and close the lid, and the recording device main body has an engaging part that engages with the toner discharge port lid. An image recording device characterized in that engaging portions for opening and closing the lid are respectively provided. 6. When connecting a toner cassette body filled with magnetic toner to a recording device body that forms a developed image on a recording medium, first open the lid of the toner supply port of the recording device body, and then remove the toner. While opening the cover of the ejection port of the cassette main body, when removing the toner cassette main body from the recording device main body, first close the toner supply port cover of the recording device main body, and then open the toner ejection port of the toner cassette main body. A toner cassette attachment/detachment method characterized by closing the lid.