JPH0348599Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] (a) Industrial application field The present invention relates to a developer replenishment device that replenishes (fills) replenishment developer into a hopper using a cartridge containing replenishment developer. In particular, the present invention relates to a developer replenishment device that can easily drop (replenish) the replenishment developer into a hopper without scattering the replenishment developer when replenishing the replenishment developer from a cartridge.

(b) Prior Art Conventionally, when a toner cartridge is stored in a hopper from above, when the sticker attached to the opening is removed, if the cartridge is not pressed down from above, the cartridge will pop out from the hopper and the toner inside will be spilled outside. It has the disadvantage that it scatters into powder, and it requires both hands to press down and peel off the sticker, which cannot be done with one hand.

(c) Purpose The present invention was developed in view of the above-mentioned conventional drawbacks and to eliminate them. The main object of the present invention is to provide a developer replenishing device that is easy to handle and can drop (replenish) developer into a hopper without scattering the developer to the outside, and does not require pressing down from above the cartridge when removing the sealing seal. It is said that

(D) Structure The present invention includes a container containing replenishing developer and having an opening in the longitudinal direction of the lower surface, and a handle portion that closes this opening and is folded back in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the opening. a cartridge provided with a hermetic seal, and a hopper for accommodating replenishment developer supplied from the cartridge, and a rotationally engaging portion provided on either the cartridge or the hopper; and a rotational engagement part for preventing the upper part from coming off, which engages with the rotational engagement part on the other one of the hoppers,
The developer replenishing device is characterized in that the seal can be peeled off by pulling the handle portion of the seal along the rotational engagement portion or the rotational engagement portion side provided on the cartridge.

(E) Embodiment FIG. 1 shows how a cartridge A containing replenishing developer (toner in this embodiment) is fitted into a hopper B. B is installed on the right side of copying machine C.

The cartridge A of this embodiment has a semicylindrical body 1 with a hollow inside, and an opening (shown clearly in FIG. 4) 11 is provided in the longitudinal direction of the lower surface. One side of the seal 2 is thermally welded to the peripheral side of the seal 11.

Further, rotary engagement portions 3, 3 consisting of shaft engagement recesses are formed substantially horizontally from one end of both side surfaces, and a cap 4 is attached to one side surface.

The sealing seal 2 is folded back at a location far from the rotary engaging portion 3, and its pull portion 21 is placed along the side 5 on the rotary engaging portion 3 side, and the pull end is placed along the upper surface of the cartridge. It is fixed with adhesive tape 6.

Cartridge A formed as above is the second
As shown in the figure, open the lid b of the hopper B to one side,
Place the cartridge into the hopper B from above with the top surface vertical. At this time, the rotational engagement parts 3, 3 on both sides of the cartridge A are fitted into the rotational engagement parts 7, 7, which are shafts protruding from the inner surface of the hopper B, and rotated downward by 1/4 rotation. Let me be the third
The state shown in the figure, that is, the bottom opening 1 of the cartridge A.
1 is placed in the lower position, and the cartridge A is stored in the hopper B.

Next, when the handle part 21 of the sealing seal 2 is pulled diagonally upward by hand, it peels off from the end of the heat-welded part of the folded part of the sealing seal 2, as shown in FIG.
The toner D in the cartridge A gradually falls and is stored around the toner supply roller 8 in the lower part of the inside of the hopper.

At this time, the cartridge A has its rotational engagement portion 3,
3 is engaged with the rotationally engaged parts 7, 7 of the hopper B as shown in FIG. , a counterclockwise rotational force is applied to the cartridge A, but since the lower left side of the cartridge A is in contact with the slope of the hopper B, this rotational force acts to strongly press the contact state, and instead This increases the sealing effect inside the hopper B.

When the toner in hopper B runs out, it is advisable to remove the empty cartridge A from the hopper and insert a new cartridge A into hopper B again in the manner described above.

Note that the rotational engagement portion 3 of the cartridge A and the rotational engagement portion 7 of the hopper B are not limited to the shape of this embodiment, but may have various shapes as long as they are prevented from coming off upward after being fitted. For example, the shapes shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 can be considered.

The example shown in FIG.
3' is formed, and on the other hand, rotational engagement portions 7', which are concavely curved engagement grooves on both side walls of the hopper B, are formed.
7' is formed, and the cartridge A shown by the chain line is inserted into the hopper B from above with its upper surface vertical.

At this time, when the rotational engagement parts 3', 3' of the cartridge A are fitted into the rotational engagement parts 7', 7' of the hopper B and rotated 1/4 downward, as shown in the figure,
The rotationally engaged portions 3', 3' of the cartridge A enter and engage upwardly in a manner that prevents them from coming off.

Also, the example shown in Fig. 6 is the cartridge A.
Rotation engagement parts 3'', 3'' are formed of horizontal plate-shaped protruding shafts protruding from both sides of the hopper B, while rotation engagement parts 3'', 3'' are formed of circular grooves with upward openings provided on both side walls of the hopper B. Engaging portions 7'', 7'' are formed, and when the cartridge A is fitted into the hopper B with its upper surface vertical as shown by the solid line and rotated 1/4 turn downward, the cartridge A will be aligned with the chain line as shown in the figure. The rotationally engaged portions 3'', 3'' enter the rotationally engaged portions 7'', 7'' of the hopper B and are engaged upwardly in a manner that prevents them from coming off.

In addition, the shaft forming the rotationally engaged portion 7 of the hopper B of the first embodiment is extended and integrated, and the hopper B
The shaft engaging recess forming the rotational engagement part 3 of the cartridge cylinder body 1 is formed to communicate with the inner surface of the hopper B by penetrating the back surface from both sides. Hopper B
It is also possible to fit it inside.

(F) Effect As described above, the present invention includes a container containing replenishing developer and having an opening in the longitudinal direction of the lower surface, and a sealed container having a handle portion that closes this opening and is folded back in the longitudinal direction of the opening. It consists of a cartridge equipped with a seal and a hopper that accommodates replenishment developer supplied from the cartridge, and has a rotationally engaged portion provided on either the cartridge or the hopper, and the cartridge and the hopper has a rotational engagement part for preventing the upper part from coming off that engages with the rotational engagement part, and the handle part of the hermetic seal is connected to the rotational engagement part or the rotational engagement part provided on the cartridge. The seal can be peeled off by pulling it along the side, so when the cartridge is inserted into the hopper and the seal is peeled off, the replenishment developer stored inside will not be scattered outside. The cartridge can be dropped (replenished) into the hopper, and there is no need to press down the cartridge from above when the seal is removed, making it easy to handle.

Also, when taking out the cartridge from the hopper, it is taken out vertically rather than horizontally, so
On the upper side of the opening, the toner remaining inside the cartridge falls into the hopper during the vertical process in the hopper, and on the other hand, on the lower side of the opening, it collects at the bottom corner in a vertical state, and the remaining toner falls into the hopper. It also has the effect of preventing it from being accidentally scattered outside.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The figures show one embodiment of the present invention, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the cartridge of the present invention when it is stored in a hopper, Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing how the cartridge is similarly stored, and Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing how to store the cartridge of the present invention. is a partially sectional side view of the cartridge after storage, Figure 4 is a bottom perspective view of the cartridge, and Figure 5 is a side view of the cartridge after storage.
6 are side views of different embodiments. A...Cartridge, B...Hopper, D...Toner, 1...Cartridge cylinder, 2...Airtight seal, 3
...Rotation engagement part, 7...Rotation engagement part, 11...Opening part, 21...Handle part.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A cartridge comprising a container containing replenishment developer and having an opening in the longitudinal direction of the lower surface, and a hermetic seal having a handle portion that closes the opening and extends in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the opening. and a hopper for accommodating replenishment developer supplied from the cartridge, and has a rotationally engaged portion provided on either one of the cartridge or the hopper, and a rotationally engaged portion provided on either the cartridge or the hopper. It has a rotational engagement part for preventing upward slippage that engages with the rotational engagement part, and the rotational engagement part or the rotation engagement part is provided on the cartridge with the handle part of the hermetic seal folded back toward the opening side. A developer replenishing device characterized in that the seal can be peeled off by pulling along the engaging portion side.