JPH0449634Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] Industrial Application Field This invention relates to a toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to a developing device of a copying machine.

2. Description of the Related Art A conventional toner replenishing device for a copying machine is shown in FIG. The toner replenishing device is installed on the side of the developing device and includes a cylindrical cartridge guide a and a cartridge holder b fitted to one end of the cartridge guide a.

Also, a toner cartridge c containing toner.
has a cylindrical shape that can be inserted into and removed from the cartridge holder b into the cartridge guide a, and when replenishing, the seal of the toner cartridge c is opened and the toner cartridge c is inserted into the cartridge guide a, and the cartridge guide By rotating the toner cartridge c by approximately 180 degrees within the range a, the toner in the toner cartridge c falls into the hopper and is supplied to the developing device.

Problems to be Solved by the Invention However, in the above-mentioned conventional toner replenishing device, the toner cartridge guide a that becomes empty after toner replenishment is
When the toner cartridge c was pulled out from inside, the toner adhering to the periphery of the toner cartridge c fell into the copying machine through the opening d of the cartridge holder b, as shown in Figure 8, causing problems such as staining the inside of the copying machine. .

This invention was made for the purpose of improving the above-mentioned problems.

Means and Effects for Solving the Problems The above-mentioned cartridge of a toner replenishing device main body comprises a cylindrical cartridge guide and a cartridge holder attached to one end side of the cartridge guide for loading and unloading the toner cartridge. The inner bottom of the holder is provided with a toner reservoir for collecting toner adhering to the toner cartridge, and multiple protrusions that protrude in the axial direction of the cartridge holder, so that when the toner cartridge is removed, A toner supply device for a copying machine that prevents adhered toner from leaking into the copying machine.

Embodiment This invention will be described in detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. In the figure, reference numeral 1 denotes a main body of a toner replenishing device, which is installed diagonally above a developing device 2 installed in a copying machine (not shown). The main body 1 has a cylindrical cartridge guide 3 therein, and a cartridge holder 4 is fitted into one end of the cartridge guide 3. The cartridge holder 4 has a short cylindrical shape, and the cartridge guide 3 is attached to an annular recessed step 4a formed at one end.
One end of the toner reservoir 4b is inserted into the toner reservoir 4b. Further, a large number of protrusions 4c are provided on the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge holder 4 at intervals in the circumferential direction. These protrusions 4c are provided parallel to the axis of the cartridge holder 4, and when the toner cartridge 5 is inserted, the top of each protrusion 4c supports the outer circumferential surface of the toner cartridge 5. It has the function of reducing the friction between the toner cartridge 5 and the cartridge holder 4, and at the same time preventing the toner accumulated in the toner reservoir 4b from adhering to the outer peripheral surface of the toner cartridge 5 again.

On the other hand, the other end side of the cartridge holder 4 is opened in a substantially flap shape, and the toner cartridge 5 can be inserted and removed through this opening 4d.

The toner cartridge 5 has a cylindrical shape with both ends closed, and contains toner to be replenished. Further, the outer peripheral portion is provided with a replenishment port closed by a seal in the axial direction, and a positioning protrusion (both not shown) that fits into a positioning groove 4e provided in the cartridge holder 4, Toner can be replenished as follows.

That is, when replenishing toner, the seal of the toner cartridge 5 is removed to open the toner replenishment port, and in this state, the toner cartridge 5 is inserted into the cartridge guide 3 through the opening 4d of the cartridge holder 4. do. When the insertion of the toner cartridge 5 is completed, grasp the knob 5a provided at one end of the toner cartridge 5 and rotate the toner cartridge 5 approximately 180 degrees so that the toner supply port is directly below.
Rotate. A drop opening (not shown) is opened at the bottom of the cartridge guide 3, and the toner in the toner cartridge 5 is dropped into a hopper 8 at the bottom of the main body 1 through the drop opening.

On the other hand, there is a joint body 9 at the bottom of the hopper 8.
is connected. The joint main body 9 connects the drop opening 8a of the hopper 8 and the intake port 10a of the toner conveying auger 10, and has a valve mechanism 11 at its lower part, as shown in FIG. The valve mechanism 11 is provided with a slidable valve element 11a that opens and closes a drop port 9a provided at the upper part of the joint body 9. This valve body 11a is biased in the valve opening direction by biasing means 11b such as a compression spring,
If the intake port 10a of the toner conveying auger 10 does not reach below the drop port 9a, the drop port 9a
is closed. In addition, the auger 1 for conveying the toner
0 is the developing device 2 so that the intake port 10a side is lower.
When the developing device 2 is installed in a predetermined position of the copying machine, the toner conveying auger 10
The intake port 10a opens the valve body 11a against the biasing means 11b, and the drop port 9a of the joint body 9 opens.
Inlet 10a of auger 10 for toner conveyance is provided below.
is now located.

This allows the toner conveying auger 10 to replenish the toner in the hopper 8 to the developing device 2. Furthermore, even if the developing device 2 is removed from the copying machine when replenishing developer, etc., the biasing means 11b
The valve body 11a automatically moves into the joint body 9 by the action of
Since the drop opening 9a is closed, the toner in the hopper 8 can be prevented from leaking into the copying machine.

Effects of the invention As described in detail above, in this invention, the toner reservoir 4b and the protrusion 4c supporting the outer periphery of the toner cartridge 5 are provided inside the cartridge holder 4. Even if toner adheres to the toner cartridge 5 when the toner is removed, the toner is contained in the toner reservoir 4b and does not leak out of the cartridge holder 4. Further, since the toner cartridge 5 can be inserted and removed while being supported by the protrusion 4c, the toner cartridge 5 can be inserted and removed without resistance, and the toner accumulated in the toner reservoir 4c can be returned to the outer periphery of the toner cartridge 5. Since it is possible to prevent the toner from adhering to the toner cartridge 5, it is possible to eliminate problems such as the toner adhering to the toner cartridge 5 falling into the copying machine and staining the inside of the copying machine.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

The drawings show one embodiment of this device, with Figure 1 being an overall front view, Figure 2 being a sectional view of this device, and Figure 3 being a cross-sectional view of the device.
The figure is a front view of the same, Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the circle in Figure 2,
Figure 5 is Figure 2 - arrow view from the line direction, Figure 6
The figure is an enlarged sectional view of the joint body, and FIGS. 7 and 8 are explanatory views of the conventional joint. 1 is a toner replenishing device main body, 3 is a cartridge guide, 4 is a cartridge holder, 4b is a toner reservoir, 4c is a protrusion, and 5 is a toner cartridge.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A cylindrical cartridge guide 3 and a cartridge holder 4 attached to one end side of the cartridge guide 3 for loading and unloading the toner cartridge 5.
A toner reservoir portion 4b is provided at the inner bottom of the cartridge holder 4 of the toner replenishing device main body 1 consisting of a toner reservoir portion 4b;
A toner replenishing device for a copying machine that is provided with a plurality of protrusions 4c that protrude in the axial direction of a cartridge holder 4.