JPH07295357A - Toner cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To reduce the cost by reusing cap and cartridge main body when they are not damaged. CONSTITUTION:The toner cartridge 1 is composed of a cylindrical cartridge main body 2 having a toner discharge port 3 and plastic caps 4 and 5 fixed on both ends of the main body 2 and sealing openings on both ends and the respective caps 4 and 5 have fitting parts 9 and 10 fitted into the cartridge main body 2. The outer peripheries of the fitting parts 9 and 10 are in contact with the inner periphery of the main body 2 and the fitting parts 9 and 10 of the respective caps 4 and 5 are force-fitted into the openings of the main body 2. Annular grooves 11 and 12 extending over the entire outer peripheries of the fitting parts 9 and 10 of the respective caps 4 and 5 are formed and then, O-rings 13 and 14 are fitted into the annular grooves 11 and 12 and hermetically seal the gaps between the inner periphery of the main body 2 and the outer peripheries of the fitting parts 9 and 10 of the caps 4 and 5.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner cartridge used in, for example, an electrophotographic copying machine, and more particularly, to a cylindrical cartridge body having a toner discharge port and both ends fixed to both ends of the cylindrical cartridge body. Toner composed of a plastic cap that closes the opening, each cap having a fitting portion fitted into the opening at both ends of the cartridge body, and the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion being in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge body Regarding the cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in the toner cartridge as described above, the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion of each cap is adhered to the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge body with an adhesive, whereby each cap is fixed to the cartridge body. In addition, the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge body and the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion of the cap are hermetically sealed. Then, such a toner cartridge has been discarded after the toner filled therein is used.

[0003]

However, since the conventional toner cartridge is disposable, there is a problem that the cost becomes high. In particular, since the cap is made of plastic and has a relatively complicated shape and is disposable, there is a problem that the cost becomes high.

An object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge which solves the above problems.

[0005]

A toner cartridge according to the present invention comprises a cylindrical cartridge body having a toner discharge port, and plastic caps fixed to both ends of the cylindrical cartridge body to close both end openings. Has a fitting portion that is fitted into the openings at both ends of the cartridge body, and the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion is in contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge body. The caps are fixed to the cartridge body by being press-fitted into the openings of the caps. An annular groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion of each cap, and an O-ring is inserted in the annular groove. The O-ring seals between the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge body and the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion of the cap.

[0006]

[Function] Since the caps are fixed to the cartridge body by press-fitting the fitting portion of each cap into the opening of the cartridge body, after the toner filled inside is used, the caps are removed from the cartridge body. Can be easily removed. In addition, an annular groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion of each cap over the entire circumference, and an O-ring is inserted in the annular groove. With this O-ring, the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge main body and the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion of the cap are formed. Since the gap is sealed between and, the toner is prevented from leaking.

[0007]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the left and right of FIG. 1 will be referred to as the left and right.

FIG. 1 shows the overall construction of the toner cartridge, and FIGS. 2 and 3 show the construction of a part thereof.

1 to 3, the toner cartridge
(1) is a cylindrical cartridge body (2) made of paper or a laminated composite material composed mainly of paper and having a toner discharge port (3) extending in the lengthwise direction, and a cartridge body (2).
Caps that are fixed to both ends of the and close the openings at both ends
It consists of (4) and (5).

Toner outlet (3) of the cartridge body (2)
Is a tape-shaped seal member (made of plastic film, metal foil, etc.) whose peripheral edge is heat-sealed or adhered by an adhesive to the peripheral portion of the cartridge body (2) around the toner outlet (3). It was closed in 6). A folded-back portion (6a) which is not adhered to the cartridge body (2) is provided so as to be continuous with the right end portion of the seal member (6). Further, through holes (7) and (8) are formed in the upper portions of both ends of the cartridge body (2), respectively.

Each of the caps (4) and (5) is injection-molded of plastic. Each cap (4) (5) has a fitting portion (9) (10) press-fitted into the openings of both ends of the cartridge body (2). The fitting portions (9) and (10) of the caps (4) and (5) have a substantially U-shaped vertical cross section and are provided with peripheral walls (9a) (10a) and bottom walls (9b) (10b). The outer half of the peripheral wall (9a) (10a) of the fitting part (9) (10) is cylindrical, and the outer peripheral surface thereof is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge body (2), and the inner half is inward. The taper tube shape gradually becomes thinner toward. Mating part of each cap (4) (5)
(9) The annular grooves (11) and (12) are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the outer half of the peripheral walls (9a) and (10a) of the (10), and the O-rings (11) and (12) are formed in the annular grooves (11) and (12). 13) and (14) are included. The O-rings (13) and (14) seal between the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge body (2) and the outer peripheral surfaces of the fitting portions (9) and (10) of the cap. .

FIG. 4 shows a state before the fitting portions (9) and (10) of the caps (4) and (5) are press-fitted into the openings of both ends of the cartridge body (2), and FIG. 5 is a state after the press-fitting. Indicates. O-ring (13)
Before the fitting parts (9) and (10) of the caps (4) and (5) are press-fitted into the openings of both ends of the cartridge body (2), the cross-section (14) has a circular cross section as shown in FIG. After being processed, it is deformed as shown in FIG.

Fitting part (9) in the cap (4) at the right end
The top of the peripheral wall (9a) of the cartridge body (2) has a through hole.
(6) A protrusion (15) that fits inside is formed. In addition, a guide (16) projecting obliquely upward is provided at a position circumferentially displaced from the projection (15) at the axial outer end of the peripheral wall (9a) of the fitting portion (9) of the cap (4). It is formed integrally.
Then, by fitting the protrusion (15) into the through hole (7),
The cap (4) is press-fitted into the right end opening of the cartridge body (2) so that the guide (16) faces a predetermined direction. A toner filling port (17) is formed in the bottom wall (9b) of the fitting part (9) of the cap (4) at the right end, and this toner filling port (17) is filled with the toner filling plug (18). It is closed.

A plate-like knob (19) on the cap (5) at the left end
Are integrally formed. At the top of the peripheral wall (10a) of the fitting part (10) of the cap (5) at the left end, the cartridge body
A protrusion (20) that fits in the through hole (8) of (2) is formed. Then, the protrusion (20) fits into the through hole (8), so that the toner discharge port is opened when the knob (19) is in the horizontal state.
The cap (5) is pressed into the left end opening of the cartridge body (2) so that (3) faces upward.

In such a structure, after the toner in the toner cartridge (1) is used, each cap (4)
Remove each cap (4) (5) from the cartridge body (2) by pulling out the fitting part (9) (10) of (5) from the inside of the cartridge body (2) or by tearing off the cartridge body (2). And discard the cartridge body (2). on the other hand,
Each cap (4) (5) is reused unless it is damaged. In addition, pull out the fitting part (9) (10) of each cap (4) (5) from the inside of the cartridge body (2) to remove the cartridge body (2).
The cartridge body (2) is also reused if it is not damaged.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show a modification of the annular groove formed in the fitting portions (9) and (10) of the caps (4) and (5).

In FIGS. 6 and 7, the annular groove (30) is
The fitting portions 9 and 10 gradually become shallower from the tip end side to the base end side (from the inner end side to the outer end side in the axial direction). And
When press-fitting the fitting parts (9) and (10) into the openings at both ends of the cartridge body (2), the O-ring (1
3) and (14) are arranged on the deepest side in the annular groove (30), and in this state, the fitting portions (9) and (10) are pressed into the openings of both ends of the cartridge body (2). Then, due to the frictional resistance with the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge body (2), the O-rings (13) and (14) move from the deepest part side to the shallowest part side of the annular groove (30) to reach the shallowest part. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, the largest deformation occurs here, and the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge body (2) and the fitting portion (9) (1
The outer peripheral surface of (0) is sealed. Therefore, the force required for press-fitting is small at first and then gradually increases, so that press-fitting work can be performed easily. On the contrary, when pulling out the fitting part (9) (10) from the inside of the cartridge body (2), the force required for pulling out is initially large and then gradually decreases, so the pulling out work is also easy. You can do it.

8 and 9 show another modification of the annular groove formed in the fitting portions (9) and (10) of the caps (4) and (5).

In FIG. 8 and FIG. 9, the bottom surface of the annular groove (31) is stepped in three steps, and the depth thereof is the fitting portion.
(9) (10) is deepest on the tip side (inner end in the axial direction), shallowest on the base end side (outer end in the axial direction), and the middle portion of both is the middle depth. Has become. Then, when press-fitting the fitting portions (9) (10) into the openings at both ends of the cartridge body (2), as shown in FIG. 8, the O-rings (13) (1
Place 4) in the deepest part (31a) in the annular groove (31),
In this state, the fitting parts (9) (10) are press-fitted into the openings at both ends of the cartridge body (2). Then, due to the frictional resistance with the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge body (2), the O-rings (13) and (14) are moved to the annular groove (3
It goes from the deepest part (31a) of 1) through the middle part (31b) to the shallowest part (31c). Then, as shown in FIG. 9, the largest deformation occurs here, and the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge body (2) and the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portions (9) and (10) are sealed. Therefore, the force required for press-fitting is small at first and then gradually increases, so that press-fitting work can be performed easily. On the contrary, when pulling out the fitting parts (9) and (10) from the inside of the cartridge body (2), the force required for pulling out is large at first and then gradually decreases. Easy to do.

In the above description, the cartridge main body (2) is made of paper or a laminated composite material mainly composed of paper, but it is not limited to this and may be made of plastic. In this case, the shape of the cartridge body (2) is simpler than the shape of each cap, so the manufacturing cost is low.
Even if this is discarded, the cost will not be too high.

[0021]

According to the toner cartridge of the present invention, as described above, the cap can be easily removed from the cartridge body after the toner filled in the inside is used, so that the cap and the cartridge body are damaged. If not, these can be reused. Therefore, there is nothing to discard, or only damaged ones need to be discarded, and the cost is low.
Moreover, resource saving can be achieved, and energy required for disposal is unnecessary. In addition, an annular groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion of each cap over the entire circumference, and an O-ring is inserted in the annular groove. With this O-ring, the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge main body and the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion of the cap are formed. Since the gap is sealed between and, the toner is prevented from leaking.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially omitted perspective view showing a toner cartridge according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an annular groove and an O-ring portion showing a state before the fitting portion of the cap is press-fitted into the opening of the cartridge body.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the annular groove and the O-ring portion showing a state after the fitting portion of the cap is press-fitted into the opening of the cartridge body.

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a portion of the annular groove and the O-ring before the fitting portion of the cap is press-fitted into the opening of the cartridge body, showing a modified example of the annular groove.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the annular groove and the O-ring portion after the fitting portion of the cap is press-fitted into the opening of the cartridge body, showing a modified example of the annular groove.

FIG. 8 is another enlarged cross-sectional view of the annular groove and the O-ring portion before the fitting portion of the cap is press-fitted into the opening of the cartridge body, showing another modified example of the annular groove.

FIG. 9 is another enlarged cross-sectional view of the annular groove and the O-ring part after the fitting portion of the cap is press-fitted into the opening of the cartridge body, showing another modified example of the annular groove.

[Explanation of symbols]

 (1) Toner cartridge (2) Cartridge body (3) Toner outlet (4) Cap (5) Cap (9) Fitting part (10) Fitting part (11) Annular groove (12) Annular groove (13) O Ring (14) O-ring (30) Annular groove (31) Annular groove

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cylindrical cartridge main body having a toner discharge port, and a plastic cap fixed to both ends of the cylindrical cartridge main body to close both end openings, and each cap is fitted into both end openings of the cartridge main body. In a toner cartridge having a fitting portion and an outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion being in contact with an inner peripheral surface of the cartridge body, the fitting portion of each cap is press-fitted into the opening of the cartridge body. Is fixed to the cartridge body, an annular groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the fitting portion of each cap over the entire circumference, and an O-ring is inserted in the annular groove. This O-ring allows the inner peripheral surface of the cartridge body and the cap to be inserted. The toner cartridge is sealed between the outer peripheral surface of the fitting part of the.