JPH08211720A - Toner cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: To prevent the retaining of toner in the both end parts of a container main body by extending the inside surfaces of both end walls of the container outward in a longitudinal direction at an angle of repose with one end edge in the longitudinal direction of a toner discharge opening, which is larger than the angle of repose of toner. CONSTITUTION: A toner cartridge 2 is composed of the container main body 4, a sealing member 6 and an outer case 8 and the container 4 is composed of a cylindrical member 10 and end wall members 12 and 14 and divided into a toner housing space 24 by a cylindrical wall 16 and the end walls 20 and 22 for closing both end parts of the cylindrical wall 16. The end wall member 12 is provided with a flat end wall part prescribing the end wall 20 of the container 4 and a short cylindrical wall part 32 projected outward in the longitudinal direction from the peripheral part of the flat end wall part. The inside surfaces of the end walls 20 and 22 prescribed by the flat end wall parts of the end wall members 12 and 14 are inclinedly extended outward in the longitudinal direction at the inclined angle αwith an edge aligned with the one end edge in the longitudinal direction of the toner discharge opening 26, which is larger than the angle of repose of the toner housed in the container 4 and preferably about 70-80 deg..

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner cartridge applied to a developing device in an image forming machine such as an electrostatic copying machine and a laser printer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As is well known, in image forming machines such as electrostatic copying machines and laser printers, an electrostatic latent image is formed on an electrostatic photoconductor, and the electrostatic latent image is formed into a toner image by a developing device. To be developed. In a developing device that applies toner to an electrostatic latent image to develop it into a toner image, toner is supplied by mounting a toner cartridge and opening the toner discharge opening. A typical example of the toner cartridge is provided with a container body having a tubular wall and both end walls closing both longitudinal ends of the tubular wall, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 57-136953. . Such a container body is usually composed of a tubular member and a pair of end wall members attached to both ends of the tubular member. A tubular member, which may be cylindrical or polygonal tubular, defines the tubular wall.
The end wall member has a flat wall portion having a circular shape or a polygonal shape, and a short tubular wall portion protruding from the peripheral edge of the flat wall portion. Such an end wall member is attached to both ends of the tubular member by inserting the short tubular wall portion into the tubular member or inserting the end portion of the tubular member into the short tubular wall portion. To be done. The flat wall portions of the pair of end wall members define the both end walls of the container body. Toner is contained in the container body. A toner discharge opening extending in the longitudinal direction is formed on the cylindrical wall of the container body, and the toner discharge opening is openably sealed by a sealing member. The sealing member may be composed of a film or sheet member that is detachably welded or adhered to the cylindrical wall.

The toner cartridge as described above is
The toner discharge opening of the container body is opened by at least partially detaching the sealing member from the container body, and the opened toner discharge opening is directed downward and positioned at a required position of the developing device. The toner contained therein is dropped through the toner discharge opening.

[0004]

Therefore, in the conventional toner cartridge as described above, the longitudinal end edges of the toner discharge opening formed in the cylindrical wall defined by the cylindrical member are Each of the end wall members is aligned with or positioned inside the inner end of each short tubular wall portion, and thus has a columnar shape or a cylindrical shape located outside the longitudinal end edges of the toner discharge opening in the container body. There is a polygonal columnar end space. The toner cartridge mounted in the developing device is generally arranged such that the central axis of the cylindrical wall thereof extends substantially horizontally, and therefore exists in the lower part of each of the end spaces in the container body. Toner is
It tends to stay without being discharged from the toner discharge opening. The toner staying in the container body is wastefully discarded without being properly consumed. Further, when the toner cartridge is detached from the developing device, the toner staying in the container body is scattered from the container body due to the inclination or vibration of the container body, and the image forming machine, its periphery and / or There is a risk that the operator's clothes will be contaminated.

In order to avoid the above-mentioned retention of toner in the container body, the short cylindrical wall portion formed on the end wall member, such as the end wall member mounted on the cylindrical member, is replaced by a flat wall portion. Instead of projecting inward in the longitudinal direction, it may be designed to project outward in the longitudinal direction so that the toner discharge opening formed in the tubular member extends to the flat wall portion of the end wall member. However, if such a configuration is adopted, both end portions in the longitudinal direction of the container body, that is, portions extending outward in the longitudinal direction from the flat wall portions of the end wall members exist as the toner non-accommodating space, and the toner cartridge is not accommodated. The toner storage volume for the entire length is considerably reduced.

The present invention has been made in view of the above facts, and its main technical problem is to improve the form of the toner cartridge and to discharge the toner from the toner discharge opening without excessively reducing the toner storage volume. It is to sufficiently prevent the toner from staying at both ends of the container body without being retained.

[0007]

According to one aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned main technical problems, at least one inner surface of both end walls of a container main body is provided with one longitudinal edge of the toner discharge opening. It is configured to extend outward in the longitudinal direction from the substantially coincident edge with an inclination angle α larger than the repose angle of the toner contained in the container body.

That is, in order to solve the above-mentioned main technical problem, according to one aspect of the present invention, a cylindrical wall in which a toner discharge opening extending in the longitudinal direction is formed and a longitudinal direction of the cylindrical wall. A container body having both end walls that close both ends,
In a toner cartridge including a toner housed in the container body and a sealing member that releasably seals the toner discharge opening of the container body, at least one inner surface of both end walls of the container body is From the edge substantially aligned with one longitudinal edge of the toner discharge opening, in the longitudinal direction outward,
There is provided a toner cartridge characterized in that it extends at an inclination angle α larger than the repose angle of the toner contained in the container body.

Preferably, both inner surfaces of both end walls of the container body are housed in the container body from the edges substantially matching the both end edges in the longitudinal direction of the toner discharge opening, in the longitudinal direction outward. The toner extends at an inclination angle α larger than the repose angle of the toner. The inclination angle α is preferably 70 to 80 degrees. It is preferable that the one inner surface of the both end walls of the container body is an inclined flat surface. . In the preferred embodiment,
In a sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the container body,
The inner surface of the cylindrical wall extends from both side edges of the toner discharge opening at an inclination angle β larger than the repose angle of the toner contained in the container body. Further, the cylindrical wall has a cylindrical shape, and the circumferential dimension of the toner discharge opening is substantially constant over the entire longitudinal direction.

According to another aspect of the present invention, in order to solve the above-mentioned main technical problems, at least one inner surface of both end walls of the container main body is longitudinally outward from the outer peripheral edge inward, The toner is housed in the container body at an inclination angle γ larger than the repose angle of the toner, and the toner discharge opening has one longitudinal end edge which is the outer peripheral edge of the one inner surface of the both end walls of the container body. Practically match.

That is, in order to solve the above technical problems,
According to another aspect of the present invention, a container main body having a tubular wall formed with a toner discharge opening extending in the longitudinal direction, and both end walls closing both longitudinal end portions of the tubular wall, and the inside of the container main body In a toner cartridge comprising a toner housed in a container and a sealing member that releasably seals the toner discharge opening of the container body, at least one inner surface of the both end walls of the container body is an inner surface from an outer peripheral edge. Toward the outside in the longitudinal direction with an inclination angle γ larger than the repose angle of the toner contained in the container body, and one end edge in the longitudinal direction of the toner discharge opening is formed in the container body. A toner cartridge is provided which is substantially aligned with the outer peripheral edge of the inner surface of the one end wall.

Preferably, both inner surfaces of both end walls of the container body are longitudinally outward from the outer peripheral edge inward,
The toner discharge opening extends at an inclination angle γ larger than the repose angle of the toner contained in the container body, and both end edges in the longitudinal direction of the toner discharge opening are substantially the outer peripheral edges of the inner surfaces of the both end walls of the container body. The top is matched. The inclination angle γ is 70 to 8
It is preferably 0 degrees. The one inner surface of the both end walls of the container body is substantially conical, substantially frustoconical.
Alternatively, it is preferably substantially concave. In a preferred embodiment, in a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the container body, the inner surface of the tubular wall is provided with a repose of the toner contained in the container body from both side edges of the toner discharge opening. It extends with a tilt angle β greater than the angle. Further, the cylindrical wall has a cylindrical shape, and the circumferential dimension of the toner discharge opening is substantially constant over the entire longitudinal direction.

[0013]

In the toner cartridge of the present invention, at least one of the both end walls of the container body has a part of the edge thereof aligned with the end edge of the discharge opening. Some non toner containing space is necessarily created on the outside. However, by tilting the end wall, the volume of the toner non-accommodating space to be generated can be made sufficiently small. Since the end wall extends inward in the longitudinal direction with an inclination angle α or γ larger than the repose angle of the toner toward the end edge of the toner discharge opening formed in the cylindrical wall, the toner is on the end wall. The toner is discharged smoothly through the toner discharge opening without staying.

[0014]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Preferred embodiments of a toner cartridge constructed according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the toner cartridge shown generally by the numeral 2 is
It is composed of a container body 4, a sealing member 6 and an outer case 8. The container body 4 is formed from three members, namely a tubular member 10 and end wall members 12 and 14,
In the container body 4, a toner containing space 24 is defined by the tubular wall 16 and end walls 20 and 22 that close both ends of the tubular wall 16. The tubular wall 16 is defined by the tubular member 10, and the end walls 20 and 22 are the end wall members 12 and 1.
4 is defined.

The tubular member 10 is preferably in the shape of an elongated cylinder. As is well known to those skilled in the art, such a tubular member 6 is made by laminating thin aluminum on the inner peripheral surface,
The outer peripheral surface can be conveniently formed from cardboard coated with a suitable synthetic resin film such as a nylon film. If desired, the tubular member 10 can be molded from an appropriate synthetic resin. A toner discharge opening 26 extending in the longitudinal direction is formed in the cylindrical member 10. The toner discharge opening 26 is located at the upper end of the tubular member 10 in the state shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. Both end edges of the toner discharge opening 26 are positioned somewhat inward in the longitudinal direction with respect to both end edges of the tubular member 6, and are positioned outside the toner discharge opening 26 at both longitudinal end portions of the tubular member 10. The non-opening portions 28 and 30 remain. The width of the toner discharge opening 26, that is, the circumferential dimension is
It may be substantially constant over the entire length. Tubular member 10
3, which is a horizontal cross-sectional view (hence, a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the container body 4) of FIG.
It is preferable that the inclination angle β of the cylindrical wall 16 extending from both side edges is set to be larger than the repose angle of the toner (not shown) contained in the container body 4.
In other words, the inclination angle βmin formed by the tangent to the inner surface of the cylindrical wall 16 at both side edges of the toner discharge opening 26, which is the minimum inclination angle of the cylindrical wall 16 extending in an arc shape from both side edges of the toner discharge opening 26, is defined as follows. The angle of repose of the toner contained in the container body 4 is preferably set to be larger. The reason will be mentioned later. The angle of repose of commonly used toner is about 60 degrees, so that the inclination angle βmin can be set to about 70 to 80 degrees.

Explaining with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the end wall member 12 which can be molded from an appropriate synthetic resin is
It has a flat end wall portion defining the end wall 20 of the container body 4 and a short tubular wall portion 32 protruding outward in the longitudinal direction from the peripheral edge of the end wall portion. The inner surface of the end wall 20 defined by the flat end wall portion of the end wall member 12 is substantially aligned with the one longitudinal edge (the left edge in FIG. 2) of the toner discharge opening 26 (FIG. 2). It is important that it extends from the upper edge) outwardly in the longitudinal direction with an inclination angle α larger than the repose angle of the toner contained in the container body 4. The reason will be mentioned later. As described above, the repose angle of the toner is usually about 60 degrees, so the inclination angle α is preferably about 70 to 80 degrees. Since the end wall 20 is inclined at the inclination angle α, the end wall 20 has an elliptical shape instead of a circular shape.
The short tubular wall portion 32 of the end wall member 12 has a cylindrical shape,
The outer diameter is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the tubular member 10. The end wall member 12 further includes an annular wall portion 34 that extends radially outward from the outer end of the short tubular wall portion 32, and a short cylindrical wall that projects inward in the longitudinal direction from the radially outer edge of the annular wall portion 34. It has a portion 36 and a flat plate-shaped gripping piece 38 extending outward in the longitudinal direction from the outer surface of the end wall portion defining the end wall 20. The annular wall 34 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container body 4. In such an end wall member 12, by fixing the outer peripheral surface of the short tubular wall portion 32 to the inner peripheral surface of one end portion (the left end portion in FIG. 2) of the tubular member 10 with an appropriate adhesive, It is fixed to one end of the tubular member 10.

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2,
Like the end wall member 12, the end wall member 14 can also be molded from an appropriate synthetic resin. The end wall member 14 is substantially the same as the end wall member 12 except that the end wall member 14 does not have the flat plate-shaped gripping piece 38. That is, the end wall member 14 also has a flat end wall portion that defines the end wall 22 of the container body 4 and a short tubular wall portion 40 that projects outward in the longitudinal direction from the peripheral edge of the end wall portion. . Similarly to the inner surface of the end wall 20, the inner surface of the end wall 22 defined by the flat end wall portion of the end wall member 14 is also located at one longitudinal edge (the right end edge in FIG. 2) of the toner discharge opening 26. From the substantially matched edge (upper edge in FIG. 2), the inclination angle α is larger than the angle of repose of the toner contained in the container body 4, and is preferably about 70 to 80 degrees in the longitudinal direction. It is important that it extends obliquely outward. The reason will be mentioned later. Since the end wall 22 is inclined at an inclination angle α, the end wall 22 has an elliptical shape instead of a circular shape. The short tubular wall portion 40 of the end wall member 14 has a cylindrical shape, and its outer diameter is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the tubular member 10. The end wall member 14 further includes an annular wall portion 42 that extends radially outward from the outer end of the short tubular wall portion 40, and the annular wall portion 4.
2 has a short cylindrical wall portion 44 protruding inward in the longitudinal direction from the outer edge in the radial direction. The annular wall 42 is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the container body 4. Such an end wall member 14 is obtained by fixing the outer peripheral surface of the short tubular wall portion 40 to the inner peripheral surface of one end portion (the right end portion in FIG. 2) of the tubular member 10 via an appropriate adhesive. It is fixed to one end of the tubular member 10.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the outer case 8 has a cylindrical shape having an inner diameter larger than the outer diameter of the cylindrical member 10. The length of the case 8 is substantially the same as that of the tubular member 10. Such a case 8 can be conveniently formed from a cardboard whose outer peripheral surface is coated with a suitable synthetic resin film such as a nylon film. If desired, the case 8 can be molded from an appropriate synthetic resin. As shown clearly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the case 8
A toner passage opening 46 extending in the longitudinal direction is formed in the. This toner passage opening 46 is shown in FIGS.
In the state shown in the figure, the case 8 is located at the lower end portion. The length of the toner passage opening 46 formed in the case 8, that is, the dimension in the longitudinal direction is somewhat larger than the length of the toner discharge opening 26 formed in the tubular member 10, that is, the dimension in the longitudinal direction. Both longitudinal ends of the passage opening 46 are located slightly outward in the longitudinal direction from both longitudinal ends of the toner discharge opening 26. Conveniently, the width of the toner passage opening 46, i.e., the circumferential dimension, is substantially the same as or slightly larger than the width of the toner discharge opening 26, i.e., the circumferential dimension. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the case 8
A locking projection 48 extending in the longitudinal direction of the middle portion of the case 8 is attached to the outer peripheral surface at a predetermined angle position. The locking protrusion 48 can be formed separately from the cylindrical main body of the case 8 and can be fixed at a required position with an adhesive. As clearly shown in FIG. 2, the outer diameter of the case 8 is substantially the same as the inner diameter of the short cylindrical wall portion 36 of the end wall member 12 or the inner diameter of the short cylindrical wall portion 44 of the end wall member 14. The case 8 is slightly smaller than them, and the case 8 is positioned at its both ends inside the short cylindrical wall portion 36 of the end wall member 12 and inside the short cylindrical wall portion 44 of the end wall member 14, thereby allowing the container body 4 (that is, the cylinder body 4). It is assembled so as to be rotatable relative to the member 10 and the end wall members 12 and 14). More specifically, in an example of manufacturing the toner cartridge 2, after the cylindrical member 10, the end wall member 12, the sealing member 6 (this sealing member 6 will be described later), and the case 8 are combined as required, The toner is filled into the tubular member 10 from the unclosed end (the right end in FIG. 2) of the tubular member 10, and then the end wall member 14 is attached to one end of the tubular member 10 with an adhesive. The case 8 is fixed and rotatably attached to one end of the case 8. As can be clearly understood from FIG. 3, the locking projections 48 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the case 8 project radially outward beyond the outer peripheral surfaces of the end wall members 12 and 14.

Continuing the description with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3,
The sealing member 6 can be conveniently formed from a suitable synthetic resin film such as a nylon film. The sealing member 6 has a sealing portion 50 that covers the toner discharge opening 26 formed in the tubular member 10, and an extending portion 52 that extends from the sealing portion 50. The sealing portion 50 is the tubular member 1.
Sealing portion 50 positioned on the outer peripheral surface of 0 to cover the toner discharge opening 26 and surround the toner discharge opening 26.
The peripheral edge region of is detachably fused to the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 10. The extending portion 52 extending from one side edge of the sealing portion 50, that is, the left side edge in FIG. 3, is folded back from the one side edge of the sealing portion 50 and extends on the sealing portion 50, and further extends along the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 10. 3 in the clockwise direction, extends through the toner passage opening 46 formed in the case 8, is folded back along one side edge of the toner passage opening 46, the right side edge in FIG. Along the outer peripheral surface of the. The tip of the extending portion 50 is fused to the outer peripheral surface of the case 8. If desired, the sealing portion 50 of the sealing member 6 may be adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 10 via an adhesive instead of being fused, and the tip of the extending portion 52 of the sealing member 6 may be attached. Instead of fusing, the outer peripheral surface of the case 8 may be bonded with an adhesive. The longitudinal dimension of the sealing member 6, that is, the lateral dimension in FIG. 2, is somewhat larger than the longitudinal dimension of the toner discharge opening 26, and is substantially the same as or slightly shorter than the longitudinal dimension of the toner passage opening 44. Is convenient.

FIG. 1 also schematically shows a developing device 54 in which the toner cartridge 2 is loaded. A toner cartridge receiving portion 56 is arranged above the developing device 54. The toner cartridge receiving portion 56 defines a receiving space 60 that extends substantially horizontally from an insertion opening 58 formed on one surface thereof. The insertion opening 58 is a circle having an inner diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the end wall members 12 and 14 of the toner cartridge 2, and the cross-sectional shape of the receiving space 60 is a circle corresponding to the insertion opening 58. Reception space 6
A locking groove 62 extending substantially horizontally is formed at a predetermined angular position on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical wall defining 0.

The toner cartridge 2 is loaded in the toner cartridge receiving portion 56 of the developing device 54, and the developing device 54
The operation for supplying the toner to the toner is as follows. First, the toner cartridge 2 is inserted into the receiving space 60 from the insertion opening 58 of the toner cartridge receiving portion 56 with the end wall member 14 at the top, and thus the right end in FIG. At this time, the locking projection 48 is locked by aligning the angular position of the locking projection 48 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the case 8 with the angular position of the locking groove 62 of the toner cartridge receiving portion 56. Insert it into the groove 62. Thus, the toner cartridge 2 is moved to the position where the main portion of the end wall member 12 is located inside the insertion opening 58 and only the gripping piece 38 formed on the end wall member 12 projects from the receiving space 60 to the front side. 2 is inserted into the receiving space 60. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the toner passage opening 46 formed in the case 8 is located at the lower end portion and is opened downward, but is formed in the container body 4. The toner discharge opening 26 is located at the upper end. Next, the grip piece 38 formed on the end wall member 12 is gripped, and the container body 4 is rotated 180 degrees counterclockwise in FIGS. 3 to 5. 4 shows the container body 4 rotated 90 degrees counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 shows the container body 4 rotated 180 degrees counterclockwise from the state shown in FIG. The figure shows a closed state. The case 8 is maintained in the state shown in FIG. 3 without being rotated together with the container body 4 because the engagement ridge 48 of the case 8 is engaged with the engagement groove 62 of the toner cartridge receiving portion 56. Continue to be done. As will be readily understood by reference to FIGS.
When the container body 4 is rotated while the case 8 is stationary, the extending portion 52 of the sealing member 6 is relatively pulled,
Due to this, the sealing portion 50 of the sealing member 6 is peeled off from the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 10 sequentially from the left side edge in FIG. Then, when the container body 4 is rotated to the state shown in FIG. 5, the sealing portion 50 of the sealing member 6 is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 10, leaving only one side edge portion thereof.
Thus, the toner discharge opening 26 of the container body 4 is located at the lower end portion and is opened downward. Then, the toner (not shown) contained in the container body 4 passes through the toner passage opening 46 formed in the case 8 from the toner discharge opening 26 and the developing device 5.
It is made to fall in 4. Regarding the discharge of the toner from the container body 4, the following facts should be noted. As can be clearly understood by referring to FIG. 2 by turning it upside down, in the state where the toner discharge opening 26 of the container body 4 is located at the lower end portion and opened downward, the end of the container body 4 is closed. The walls 20 and 22 extend obliquely upward in the longitudinal direction upward from the lower ends that are substantially aligned with the respective longitudinal ends of the toner discharge opening 26, and the inclination angle α of the end walls 20 and 22 with respect to the horizontal line is It is larger than the angle of repose of the toner. Therefore, the toner does not stay on the end walls 20 and 22 and flows sufficiently well and is discharged from the toner discharge opening 26. As will be understood by referring to FIG. 5, the cylindrical wall 6 of the container body 4 also forms an inclination angle β larger than the repose angle of the toner with respect to the horizontal line upward from both side edges of the toner discharge opening 26. It extends in an arc shape, so that the toner does not stay on the cylindrical wall 6. Thus, substantially all of the toner contained in the container body 4 is sufficiently and smoothly discharged from the container body 4 into the developing device 54 through the toner discharge opening 26 and the toner passage opening 46.

Even if the end walls 20 and 22 of the container body 4 are made to extend substantially vertically from both ends of the toner discharge opening as shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. The toner is discharged from the toner discharge opening 26 satisfactorily without remaining on the toner particles 20 and 22. However, if the end walls 20 and 22 are made to be as indicated by the chain double-dashed line,
Compared with the case shown by the solid line, the toner storage volume of the container body 4 is reduced.

When the toner cartridge 2 is to be detached from the developing device 54 after substantially all the toner contained in the container body 4 is discharged, the grasping piece 38 is grasped and the container body 4 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 5 to 3 in a clockwise direction from the state shown in FIG. 3 to the state shown in FIG. 3, so that the toner discharge opening 26 of the container body 4 is again positioned at the upper end portion and remains in the container body 4. A certain amount of toner is surely prevented from dropping from the toner discharge opening 26. Then, the toner cartridge 2 is pulled out from the toner cartridge receiving section 56.

FIG. 6 illustrates another embodiment of a toner cartridge constructed according to the present invention. The toner cartridge indicated by reference numeral 102 as a whole is composed of a container body 104 and a sealing member 106. The toner cartridge 102 does not have an outer case.

Container body 10 of toner cartridge 102
Reference numeral 4 denotes three members, that is, the tubular member 110 and the end wall member 1.
It is formed from 12 and 114. The tubular member 110 is substantially the same as the tubular member 10 of the container body 4 in the toner cartridge 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. In the end wall member 112, the annular wall portion 134 has a relatively small radial dimension, and the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the short cylindrical wall portion 132 and the inner peripheral surface of the short cylindrical wall portion 136 is the cylindrical member 110. End wall member 1 of the container body 4 in the toner cartridge 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, except that it is substantially the same as the wall thickness of
It is substantially the same as 2. Further, the end wall member 114 also has a relatively small radial dimension of the annular wall portion 142, and the gap between the outer peripheral surface of the short tubular wall portion 140 and the inner peripheral surface of the short cylindrical wall portion 144 is tubular. It is substantially the same as the end wall member 14 of the container body 4 in the toner cartridge 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, except that the wall thickness of the member 110 is substantially the same. The end wall member 112 is formed by inserting one end of the tubular member 110 between the short tubular wall portion 132 and the short cylindrical wall portion 136 and adhering the end portion by an adhesive. Fixed to one end of the end wall member 11
4 is the short cylindrical wall portion 140 and the short cylindrical wall portion 144.
The other end of the tubular member 110 is inserted between the two and is adhered via an adhesive, whereby the other end of the tubular member 110 is fixed.

The sealing member 106 in the toner cartridge 102 can also be conveniently formed from a suitable synthetic resin film such as a nylon film. The sealing member 106 also has a sealing portion 150 and an extending portion 152. The sealing portion 150 is positioned on the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 110 to cover the toner discharging opening 126, and the toner discharging opening 1
A peripheral region of the sealing portion 150 surrounding the 26 is detachably fused to the outer peripheral surface of the tubular member 110. The extending portion 152 extending from one end edge of the sealing portion 150, the right end edge in FIG. 6, is folded back along one end edge of the sealing portion 150 to extend leftward in FIG. 6 on the sealing portion 150, and further the end wall member. It extends along the outer peripheral surface of the short cylindrical wall portion 136 of 112. The tip of the extending portion 152 has an end wall member 112.
It is detachably fused to the outer peripheral surface of the short cylindrical wall 136.

Toner cartridge 102 shown in FIG.
An example of the usage of the toner cartridge 102 will be described. That is, the toner cartridge 102 is in the state shown in FIG.
The toner discharge opening 126 formed on the upper end of the developing device (3) is positioned at the lower end, and is inserted into a required position of the developing device (not shown). Then, the extension portion 1 of the sealing member 106.
The tip end portion of 52 is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the short cylindrical wall portion 136 of the end wall member 112, and the extending portion 152 is pulled leftward in FIG. Thus, the sealing part 150 of the sealing member 106 is formed.
6 are sequentially separated from the peripheral surface of the cylindrical member 110 from the right end in FIG. 6, and the toner discharge opening 126 is completely opened. The sealing member 106 can be completely peeled from the peripheral surface of the tubular member 110 to be detached from the container body 104. Thus, the toner discharge opening 1
When the opening 26 is opened, the toner (not shown) contained in the container body 104 is discharged to the toner discharge opening 126.
Is supplied downward to the developing device. As in the case of the toner cartridge 2 shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, the end walls 120 and 122 of the container body 104 are upwardly moved from the lower end substantially aligned with the respective longitudinal ends of the toner discharge opening 126. The inclined angle α of the end walls 120 and 122 with respect to the horizontal line is greater than the repose angle of the toner. Therefore, the toner does not stay on the end walls 120 and 122 and flows sufficiently well and is discharged from the toner discharge opening 126. Further, the cylindrical wall 116 of the container body 104 is also arcuate upward from both side edges of the toner discharge opening 126 with an inclination angle β (see FIG. 5) larger than the repose angle of the toner with respect to the horizontal line. It also does not extend and therefore the toner does not stay on the cylindrical wall 116. Thus, substantially all of the toner contained in the container body 104 is sufficiently smooth.
The toner is discharged into the developing device from inside 4 through the toner discharge opening 126. When substantially all of the toner in the container body 104 has been discharged, the container body 104 is rotated 180 degrees about the central axis in the longitudinal direction, and the toner discharge opening 126 is formed.
Can be positioned at the upper end and then withdrawn from the developing device.

FIG. 7 shows still another embodiment of the toner cartridge constructed according to the present invention.
In the toner cartridge 202 shown in FIG. 7,
The container body 204 has two members, that is, a bottomed tubular member 211.
And the end wall member 212. The bottomed tubular member 211 defines an end wall 222 that closes one end of the tubular wall 216 together with the tubular wall 216 having a cylindrical shape. In the state shown in FIG. 7, the inner surface of the end wall 222 extends upward in the longitudinal direction from a lower end that coincides with one end edge of the toner discharge opening 226 formed in the cylindrical wall 106 and extends upward in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the inclination angle α of the inner surface of the end wall 222 with respect to the horizontal line is set to be larger than the repose angle of the toner. The end wall member 212 and the sealing member 206 in the toner cartridge 202 shown in FIG. 7 are substantially the same as the end wall member 112 and the sealing member 106 in the toner cartridge 102 shown in FIG. In an example of manufacturing such a toner cartridge 202, the bottomed cylindrical member 21
After the sealing portion 250 of the sealing member 206 is detachably fused to the outer peripheral surface of No. 1 to seal the toner discharge opening 226, the open end of the bottomed cylindrical member 211 (the left end in FIG. 7).
The bottomed cylindrical member 211 is filled with toner. Then, the end wall member 212 is attached to the open end of the bottomed tubular member 211.
Is fixed, and the tip of the extending portion 252 of the sealing member 206 is detachably fused to the outer peripheral surface of the short cylindrical wall portion 236 of the end wall member 212.

Thus, like the container body 204 of the toner cartridge 202 shown in FIG. 7, the cylindrical wall 216 is formed.
When one of the end walls 220 and 222 that closes both ends of the tubular wall 216 is integrally formed with the tubular wall 216, an end wall member formed separately is fixed to one end of the tubular wall 216, that is, the right end in FIG. Therefore, at one end of the container body 204, that is, at the right end in FIG. 7, there is a relatively short non-opening portion 230 that is necessary for peelably fusing the sealing portion 250 of the sealing member 206. All you have to do is Thus, if the unprocessed portion 230 may be relatively short, the end wall 222 may extend substantially vertically, as shown by the alternate long and two short dashes line in FIG. 7, to allow one end of the toner discharge opening 226 to be extended. The edge can also be fitted to the lower end of the end wall 222. Even if it does so, the toner storage capacity of the container body 204 will not be excessively reduced, and the toner will not remain in the container body 204 at the right end portion of the container body 204.

FIG. 8 illustrates yet another embodiment of a toner cartridge constructed in accordance with the present invention. FIG.
In the toner cartridge 302 shown in FIG. 3, the end wall 320 defined by the end wall portion of the end wall member 312 is shown.
Is a conical shape extending inward from the outer peripheral edge, that is, toward the central axis of the cylindrical wall 316 and extending outward in the longitudinal direction at an inclination angle γ. It is important that the inclination angle γ is selected to be larger than the angle of repose of the toner contained in the container body 304. As described above, the angle of repose of the toner is generally about 60 degrees, so the inclination angle γ is preferably about 70 to 80 degrees. Similarly to the end wall 320, the end wall 322 defined by the end wall portion of the end wall member 314 also extends longitudinally outward from the outer peripheral edge toward the inside, that is, toward the central axis of the cylindrical wall 316. It has a conical shape extending at an inclination angle γ. Both end edges of the toner discharge opening 326 formed in the tubular member 310 have end walls 320 and 322.
Is substantially aligned with the outer periphery of the. The end walls 320 and 322 of the toner cartridge 302 shown in FIG.
The configuration other than the points described above regarding the toner cartridge 202 is substantially the same as that of the toner cartridge 202 shown in FIG. Also in the toner cartridge 302 shown in FIG.
06 from the container body 304 to remove the container body 304
When the toner discharge opening 326 of the container is opened, the container body 3
The toner accommodated in the toner container 04 is sufficiently satisfactorily discharged from the toner discharge opening 326. Since the end walls 320 and 322 extend outward in the longitudinal direction at an inclination angle γ that is larger than the repose angle of the toner, the toner does not remain on the end walls 320 and 322.

Instead of the conical end walls 320 and 322, a truncated cone end wall 420 as shown in FIG. 9 or a concave end wall 520 as shown in FIG. 10 can be employed. Also in the case of the truncated cone-shaped end wall 420, it is important that the inclination angle γ is larger than the repose angle of the toner. In the case of the concave end wall 520, the minimum inclination angle γmin, that is, the inclination angle γmi at the lower end of the end wall 520.
It is important that n is larger than the angle of repose of the toner. In addition, the end walls 320 and 3 shown in FIGS.
22, 420 and 520 are configured such that their longitudinal outermost points are aligned with the central axes of the tubular walls 316, 416 and 516, but if desired, their longitudinal outermost points are tubular. It can be displaced in any direction with respect to the central axes of the walls 316, 416 and 516.

Furthermore, in addition, in all the above-mentioned embodiments, the cylindrical walls 16, 116, 216, 316, 4 are arranged.
16 and 516 are cylindrical with a circular cross-section, but if desired, the cylindrical walls 16, 116, 2 of cylindrical shape
Instead of 16, 316, 416, and 516, it is also possible to employ a polygonal cylindrical tubular wall such as a regular hexagonal tubular shape or a regular octagonal tubular shape.

[0034]

In the toner cartridge of the present invention, the toner storage capacity is not excessively reduced, and the toner is sufficiently prevented from staying at both ends of the container body without being discharged from the toner discharge opening. To be done.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a preferred embodiment of a toner cartridge configured according to the present invention together with a developing device to which the toner cartridge is applied.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the toner cartridge shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the toner cartridge illustrated in FIG.

FIG. 4 shows the toner cartridge shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a state in which the container body is rotated 90 degrees with respect to the outer case.

FIG. 5 shows the toner cartridge shown in FIG.
FIG. 4 is a transverse cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, illustrating a state in which the container body is rotated 180 degrees with respect to the outer case.

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating another embodiment of a toner cartridge constructed in accordance with the present invention.

7 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating yet another embodiment of a toner cartridge constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 2, illustrating yet another embodiment of a toner cartridge constructed in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating a modification of the end wall.

FIG. 10 is a partial longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating another modification of the end wall.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2: toner cartridge 4: container body 6: sealing member 8: outer case 10: tubular member 12: end wall member 14: end wall member 16: tubular wall 20: end wall 22: end wall 24: toner storage space 26 : Toner discharge opening 102: Toner cartridge 104: Container body 106: Sealing member 110: Cylindrical member 112: End wall member 114: End wall member 116: Cylindrical wall 120: End wall 122: End wall 126: Toner discharge opening 202 : Toner cartridge 204: Container main body 206: Sealing member 211: Bottomed cylindrical member 212: End wall member 216: Cylindrical wall 222: End wall 226: Toner discharge opening 302: Toner cartridge 304: Container main body 306: Sealing member 312 : End wall member 314: End wall member 316: Cylindrical wall 320: End wall 322: End wall 326: Toner discharge opening 416: Like wall 420: end wall 516: cylindrical wall 520: end wall

Claims (14)

[Claims] 1. A container body having a cylindrical wall formed with a toner discharge opening extending in the longitudinal direction, and both end walls closing both longitudinal ends of the cylindrical wall, and a container body housed in the container body. A toner cartridge comprising a toner and a sealing member for unsealing the toner discharge opening of the container body, wherein at least one inner surface of the both end walls of the container body has one longitudinal edge of the toner discharge opening. A toner cartridge which extends longitudinally outwardly from an edge substantially coincident with the above, with an inclination angle α larger than the repose angle of the toner contained in the container body. 2. Both inner surfaces of both end walls of the container body,
4. The toner discharge opening extends outward in the longitudinal direction from an edge that substantially coincides with both end edges in the longitudinal direction of the toner discharge opening, with an inclination angle α larger than a repose angle of the toner contained in the container body. 1. The toner cartridge according to 1. 3. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the inclination angle α is 70 to 80 degrees. 4. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the one of the both end walls of the container body is an inclined flat surface. 5. In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the container body, the inner surface of the cylindrical wall has a repose angle of the toner contained in the container body from both side edges of the toner discharge opening. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the toner cartridge extends at a larger inclination angle β. 6. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the cylindrical wall has a cylindrical shape, and a circumferential dimension of the toner discharge opening is substantially constant over the entire longitudinal direction. . 7. A container main body having a tubular wall formed with a toner discharge opening extending in the longitudinal direction, and both end walls closing both longitudinal ends of the tubular wall, and the container main body is housed in the container main body. In a toner cartridge including toner and a sealing member that openably seals the toner discharge opening of the container main body, at least one inner surface of both end walls of the container main body extends inward from an outer peripheral edge. Outward in the direction, an inclination angle γ larger than the repose angle of the toner contained in the container body.
And a longitudinal edge of the toner discharge opening is
A toner cartridge, which is substantially matched with the outer peripheral edges of the one inner surface of the both end walls of the container body. 8. Both inner surfaces of both end walls of the container body,
It extends inward in the longitudinal direction from the outer edge toward the outside in the longitudinal direction with an inclination angle γ larger than the repose angle of the toner contained in the container body. 8. The toner cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the toner cartridge is substantially matched with the outer peripheral edges of the inner surfaces of the both end walls of the container body. 9. The toner cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the inclination angle γ is 70 to 80 degrees. 10. The toner cartridge according to claim 7, wherein an inner surface of the one of the both end walls of the container body has a substantially conical shape. 11. The toner cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the inner surface of the one of the both end walls of the container body has a substantially truncated cone shape. 12. The toner cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the inner surface of the one of the both end walls of the container body is substantially concave. 13. In a cross-sectional view perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the container body, the inner surface of the cylindrical wall has a repose angle of the toner contained in the container body from both side edges of the toner discharge opening. 8. Inclination angle β is larger than that and extends.
13. The toner cartridge according to any one of 1 to 12. 14. The toner cartridge according to claim 7, wherein the cylindrical wall has a cylindrical shape, and a circumferential dimension of the toner discharge opening is substantially constant over the entire longitudinal direction. .