JPH0943952A - Toner cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce winding torque of a winding shaft and load which is applied on a seal member. SOLUTION: A winding shaft 220 which winds a seal member 210 which blocks an opening for dropping toner of a toner cartridge body 201 is supported in a storage chamber 240 in such a manner that it can rotate freely. In the storage chamber 240, an opening 241 for introduction which introduces a seal member 210 is provided in a lower face section 240c, a rib 243 is provided on an inner wall face 240b, and a projection bar 245 is provided along the opening 241 for introduction. A free end of the seal member 210 which is wound up comes into contact with the projection bar 245. The seal member 210 which is wound up comes into contact with the rib 243 under a condition where it has a predetermined looseness, and a diameter of the wound seal member 210 is regulated. The projection bar 245 prevents a leakage of toner from the opening 241 for introduction in the storage chamber 240.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner cartridge for supplying toner to a developing device of an image forming apparatus such as an electrostatic copying machine or a facsimile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a toner cartridge has a toner dropping opening on a lower surface thereof, and a toner cartridge main body containing toner therein and a lower surface portion of the toner cartridge main body detachably attached. In this state, there is provided a film-like sealing member that closes the toner dropping opening.

After the toner cartridge is set by being inserted into the accommodating recess of the image forming apparatus main body, the seal member is peeled off. As a result, the toner dropping opening is opened, and the toner in the toner cartridge main body drops and is replenished to the developing device of the image forming apparatus main body arranged below the toner cartridge main body.

As an example of the above-mentioned toner cartridge, a take-up shaft for taking up a seal member that closes the toner dropping opening and taking up the peeling member and a toner cartridge main body are provided separately from each other, and the take-up shaft is rotatable. An accommodating chamber having an introduction opening for supporting and accommodating and introducing the seal member therein, and sponge rubber or the like for pressing the seal member wound in the accommodating chamber against the peripheral surface of the winding shaft so as not to unravel. There is a toner cartridge further provided with the pressing member.

In this toner cartridge, the attached toner is also introduced into the storage chamber together with the seal member. The introduced seal member is elastically pressed against the winding shaft by the pressing member to prevent the seal member from being unraveled and to prevent the adhered toner from scattering.

[0006]

However, since the winding shaft is rotated with a pressing force applied, the winding torque of the winding shaft becomes large. For this reason, when the winding shaft is manually rotated, a strong force is required to peel off the seal member, resulting in poor workability. In addition, when the winding shaft is rotated by a motor or the like, a high-output motor is required, which causes a cost increase.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to solve the above technical problems and to provide a toner cartridge capable of preventing toner scattering without increasing the winding torque of the seal member.

[0008]

To achieve the above object, in a toner cartridge according to a first aspect of the present invention, the toner dropping opening is formed by taking up a seal member that closes the toner dropping opening, and winding it up. A toner cartridge comprising: a take-up shaft to be opened; and a containing chamber that rotatably supports the take-up shaft and has an introduction opening for introducing a seal member into a lower surface thereof. It is characterized in that the inner wall surface is provided with a winding diameter regulating means for regulating the winding diameter in a state where the wound sealing member has a predetermined slack.

According to the configuration of the invention according to claim 1,
Since the seal member is wound around the winding shaft with a predetermined slack, it is possible to reduce a load such as a frictional force applied to the sealing member or the winding shaft from the winding diameter regulating means.
Therefore, the winding torque of the seal member can be reduced as compared with the conventional method in which the seal member is constantly pressed against the winding shaft to limit the unraveling of the seal member.

A toner cartridge according to a second aspect is the toner cartridge according to the first aspect, wherein the winding diameter regulating means is a rib integrally formed on the inner wall surface of the storage chamber, and the rib is The winding surface has a curved surface facing the circumferential surface of the winding shaft at a predetermined distance and curved in the same direction as the circumferential surface of the winding shaft. The curved surface guides the winding of the seal member and regulates the winding diameter. It is characterized by doing.

According to the configuration of the invention according to claim 2,
In addition to the action of the invention according to claim 1, the winding diameter of the sealing member is regulated while being guided by the curved surface of the rib, so that the sealing member can be smoothly wound. A toner cartridge according to a third aspect is the toner cartridge according to the first or second aspect, wherein the lower surface of the storage chamber is provided along the peripheral edge of the introduction opening near the winding shaft. It is characterized in that a ridge extending inward and contacting the free end of the seal member wound in the accommodation chamber with the rotation of the winding shaft is provided.

According to the configuration of the invention according to claim 3 above,
In addition to the effect of the invention according to claim 1 or 2, when the seal member is housed in the storage chamber, the toner attached to the seal member is also stored in the storage chamber together with the seal member. A part of the adhered toner drops from the seal member to the lower wall of the storage chamber. The toner that has fallen is prevented from reaching the introduction opening by the ridge, so that the toner inside the storage chamber can be prevented from leaking out from the introduction opening.

Further, when the free end of the seal member sweeps away the toner dropped on the lower surface wall when the seal member is wound up, the swept toner does not reach the introduction opening. , Can be blocked by the ridge. Further, as the take-up shaft rotates, the free end of the seal member comes into contact with the ridge, so that the toner attached to the free end is scraped off or wiped off. Therefore, even when the above-mentioned free end reaches above the introduction opening, it is possible to prevent the falling toner from the free end from leaking out through the introduction opening.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing an internal cross section of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus to which a toner replenishing device including the toner cartridge of the present embodiment is applied, and FIG. 2 is a copying machine when the toner cartridge is inserted and removed. FIG.

Referring to FIG. 1, the copying machine 1 of the present invention exposes and scans an original placed on a transparent original placing plate 20 inside a main body 10 of the copying machine, and exposes the reflected light from the original. The optical system 30 for guiding to the body drum 41, and the electrostatic latent image formed on the photoconductor drum 41 to the developing device 4
After being visualized by 3, the image forming unit 40 that transfers the image onto the paper and the fixing device 51 that heats and fixes the toner image transferred onto the paper are discharged from the paper feed tray 52 to the discharge tray 53 through the image forming unit 40. And a paper transport section 50 for

As the image forming section 40, a charging charger 42, a developing device 43, a transfer charger 44 and a cleaning device 45 are arranged in this order around a photosensitive drum 41. The image forming unit 40 forms an electrostatic latent image by forming a document image on the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 41 uniformly charged by the charging charger 42, and then the electrostatic latent image is developed by the developing device 43. The toner image is visualized, the toner image is transferred to the sheet by the transfer charger 44, and the residual toner is collected by the cleaning device 45.

The toner replenishing device 100 is arranged above the developing device 43 and supplies toner to the developing device 43. The toner replenishing device 100 sets a toner cartridge 200 containing toner for replenishment and the toner cartridge 200 so that the toner cartridge 200 can be pulled out freely.
A toner replenishing device main body 300 having a retractable guide tray 310 for guiding insertion / removal of the toner cartridge 200 is provided.

The guide tray 310, as shown in FIG.
The toner set in the toner cartridge 200 is guided by inserting and removing the toner cartridge 200 in a horizontal posture (hereinafter referred to as “guide posture”) tilted forward of the copying machine, and is rotated around a predetermined axis 60. The cartridge 200 can be retracted in a vertical posture (hereinafter referred to as “retracted posture”) along the pull-out side end surface 205.

When replacing the toner cartridge 200, as shown in FIG. 2, the opening / closing cover 12 forming a part of the front surface 11 of the copying machine main body 10 is opened to open the guide tray 3
The old and new toner cartridges 200 are inserted and removed while the 10 is tilted to the horizontal guiding posture. The opening / closing cover 12 is adapted to open and close the inside of the copying machine main body 10 by rotating around a horizontal axis 13 along the front surface 11. When the setting of the toner cartridge 200 is completed,
The guide tray 310 is raised to a vertical retracted posture along the pull-out side end surface 205 of the toner cartridge 200, and then the opening / closing cover 12 is raised to a vertical posture and closed.

Description will be made with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. FIG.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner supply device main body 300 and the toner cartridge 200 described above. In FIG. 3, the arrow X indicates the rearward direction, which is the insertion direction of the toner cartridge 200. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional side view of the toner cartridge 200. The toner cartridge 200 has a lower surface portion 20.
7, a container-shaped toner cartridge body 201 having a toner dropping opening 202, and a toner cartridge body 20.
1, a shutter member 250 slidably fitted to the flange 203, a film-like seal member 210 for closing the toner drop opening 202, and a seal member 21.
A winding shaft 220 for winding 0 and a driven gear 230 that rotates integrally with the winding shaft 220 are provided. The toner cartridge main body 201 includes a container-shaped toner accommodating portion 201 b for accommodating toner, a plate-shaped flange 203 formed to project along the lower surface 207, and a toner accommodating portion 201.
and a housing chamber 240 which is partitioned from b and rotatably supports and houses the winding shaft 220. Note that FIG. 4 shows the toner cartridge 200 with the shutter member 250 removed and in an unused state.

Description will be made with reference to FIG. The toner supply device main body 300 includes the guide tray 310 and the guide tray 3 described above.
A gear mechanism 33 having a mounting portion 321 for setting the toner cartridge 200 guided by the guide roller 10 to a predetermined set position and a drive gear 332 that meshes with the driven gear 230 of the toner cartridge 200 set to the set position.
1 and a motor 333 that rotationally drives the gear mechanism 331,
A support member 334 attached to the mounting portion 321 for supporting the gear mechanism 331, and both end portions 22 of the winding shaft 220.
The bearing 2 is provided with a bearing groove 335 formed in a supporting member 334 for rotatably supporting each of them and positioning them in the set position. In addition, the toner replenishing device main body 3
Reference numeral 00 denotes a hopper unit 320 provided below the mounting unit 321 for receiving and collecting the toner falling from the set toner cartridge 200, and a conveying unit for conveying the toner from the hopper unit 320 to the developing device 43, for example, the present embodiment. In the embodiment, the screw conveyor 340 is provided.

The mounting portion 321 is a mounting surface 32 which is a peripheral portion of an upper opening formed in the hopper portion 320 and which is in contact with a lower surface portion of the flange 203 of the toner cartridge 200.
4 and a groove 322 which is formed in a pair on the left and right of the mounting surface 324 and which guides while being fitted with both side portions of the flange 203 with a predetermined play. The pair of grooves 322 are open facing each other on the left and right. Further, the front end portion (introduction side end portion) of each groove 322 is in the opposite introduction direction of the flange 203 (anti-X direction)
The flange 203 is introduced into the groove 322.

The guide tray 310 is attached to the front end (introduction side end) of the mounting portion 321. The toner cartridge 200 is inserted into the guide tray 310 in the horizontal guide posture, and is continuously pushed into the groove 322. At this time, the shutter member 250
Are engaged with a predetermined portion of the guide tray 310 and are left on the guide tray 310. On the other hand, the toner cartridge body 2
01 is set on the mounting portion 321 while sliding the lower surface portion 207 on the guide tray 310. Mounting part 321
Both ends 222 (see FIG. 5) of the take-up shaft 220 are introduced into the bearing groove 335 and fitted into the bearing groove 335.

The bearing groove 335 is a support member 334 made of a sheet metal material which is erected in a pair on the left and right at the rear end of the mounting portion 321.
The front end portion of the pair is formed in a pair corresponding to both end portions 222 of the winding shaft 220. The bearing groove 335 is provided in the toner cartridge 20 so that the winding shaft 220 can be introduced therein.
It is opened in the direction opposite to 0 (the direction opposite to the X direction), and supports both ends 222 of the winding shaft 220, respectively.
The inner rear surface 336 of the bearing groove 335 is formed as a curved surface that can follow the peripheral surfaces of both ends 222 of the winding shaft 220 in the set state. The inner back surface 336 has the bearing groove 335.
The toner cartridge 200 can be positioned at the set position by contacting both ends 222 of the take-up shaft 220 introduced to the toner cartridge 200. At this set position, the toner cartridge 200 can be positioned at a proper position with respect to the toner replenishing device main body 300, and the driven gear 230 and the drive gear 332 can be properly meshed.

The drive gear 33 is driven by the motor 333.
When 2 is driven, the rotation is transmitted to the driven gear 230 that is meshed, and the seal member 21 is rotated by the winding shaft 220.
0 is wound up, and the toner drop opening 202 is opened.
As a result, the toner contained in the toner cartridge body 201 can be dropped from the toner dropping opening 202 to the hopper section 320. The toner in the hopper unit 320 is conveyed to the developing device 43 by the screw conveyor 340.

The toner cartridge 200 will be described in more detail below. This will be described with reference to FIG. The toner cartridge main body 201 is made of resin, and the toner container 2
01b and the flange 203 are integrally formed. The flange 203 is formed in a predetermined shape that can be set in the mounting portion 321 and that can be smoothly inserted into and removed from the groove 322, for example, a substantially square plate shape. The outer shape of the lower surface portion 207 of the toner cartridge body 201 is determined by the flange 203, and the lower surface portion 207 is formed in a planar shape. The toner dropping opening 202 is formed in the center of the lower surface portion 207, and the sealing member 210 covers the toner dropping opening 202 as described below and is detachably attached.

For example, the seal member 210 is arranged such that the free end side portion 211 thereof is closer to the insertion side end face 208 than the toner dropping opening 202. The seal member 210 extends along the lower surface portion 207 from the portion 211 on the free end side,
A portion up to a portion 212 closer to the pull-out side end surface 205 than the toner dropping opening 202 is attached to the lower surface portion 207. The seal member 210 is folded back at a portion 212 close to the pull-out side end face 205, extends toward the insertion side end face 208 so as to overlap the attached seal member 210, and is guided by the insertion side end of the flange 203. The fixed end is connected to the winding shaft 220 in the accommodation chamber 240. The take-up shaft 220 opens the toner dropping opening 202 by taking up the seal member 210 and taking it up.

Description will be made with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the storage chamber 240. The accommodation chamber 240 is
The insertion side end surface 208 of the toner cartridge main body 201 is provided with a size capable of accommodating the wound seal member 210.
Is provided in the lower part of the so as to have its longitudinal direction in the horizontal direction along the insertion-side end surface 208 and to coincide with the axial direction of the winding shaft 220 (the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 6). Containment room 2
Reference numeral 40 denotes a partition wall 249 integrally formed with the toner storage portion 201b of the toner cartridge main body 201, an introduction opening 241 for introducing the seal member 210 into the inside, an insertion side end surface of the storage chamber 240, and a lower surface wall 240a. And a storage chamber cover 242 forming a part. In the accommodation chamber 240, the winding shaft 220 is arranged so as to be displaced from immediately above the introduction opening 241 toward the accommodation chamber cover 242.

The introduction opening 241 has a partition wall 249 and a housing chamber cover 24 on the lower surface 240c of the housing chamber 240.
The space between the two is formed as an inclined passage through which the seal member 210 can pass. FIG. 5 shows the accommodating chamber 240 of the toner cartridge 200 and the winding shaft 220.
FIG. With reference to FIG. 5, by removing the accommodation chamber cover 242 from the partition wall 249 of the accommodation chamber 240, the inside of the accommodation chamber 240 is opened to the insertion side and the winding shaft 220 can be accommodated. Accommodation chamber cover 24
The center of the upper portion of 2 is fixed to the partition wall 249 by a screw 247 (referred to as a fixed state). The storage chamber 240 may be provided as a completely separate body from the toner storage portion 201b of the toner cartridge body 201.

The accommodating chamber 240 has a pair of notches 246 formed in the partition wall 249 of the accommodating chamber 240 and a pair of protrusions 248 formed in the accommodating chamber cover 242 for supporting the winding shaft 220. Is provided. Notch 246
Is an arc portion that can follow the circumferential surface of the winding shaft 220,
The housing chamber cover 242 has an introduction portion that is opened to the insertion side when the accommodation chamber cover 242 is removed and introduces the winding shaft 220 into the arc portion. Further, the protrusion 248 has an arc portion which is fitted into the introduction portion of the cutout portion 246 and can follow the peripheral surface of the winding shaft 220 when the accommodation chamber cover 242 is fixed. With the housing chamber cover 242 fixed, the protrusion 248
Of the winding shaft 220 and the arc of the notch 246.
Can be rotatably supported by being clamped from both sides.

The take-up shaft 220 is formed by penetrating the peripheral surface 224 having a predetermined diameter, which is a portion for winding the seal member 210, and the end portion of the seal member 210 is inserted and fixed. And a slit 221. The take-up shaft 220 has both end portions 222 supported by bearing grooves 335 provided in the toner replenishing device main body 300.
The small diameter portion 223 sandwiched by the arcuate portions of the protrusion 248 and the cutout portion 246 is provided on both sides of the peripheral surface 224. Further, the driven gear 2 is provided between the small diameter portion 223 on one end side of the winding shaft 220 and one of the both end portions 222.
30 are provided. The predetermined diameter of the peripheral surface 224 is set corresponding to the winding diameter of the seal member 210. The wound portion is not limited to the above shape, and the seal member 210 may be directly fixed to the peripheral surface 224 without the slit 221.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the storage chamber cover 242. With reference to FIGS. 6 and 7, the storage chamber cover 242 is
As described above, the vertical plate portion 242a forming the insertion side end surface of the accommodation chamber 240 and the horizontal plate portion 242b forming a part of the lower surface wall 240a are formed to be orthogonal to each other. The accommodating chamber cover 242 includes the protrusion 2 formed on the horizontal plate 242b.
42c, a ridge 245 extending inwardly of the housing chamber 240 along the end of the horizontal plate portion 242b on the pull-out side, and a winding diameter regulation mechanism for regulating the winding diameter of the wound sealing member 210 to a predetermined value. As ribs 243.

The predetermined value of the winding diameter regulated by the winding diameter regulating mechanism is a value at which the wound seal member 210 can be wound with a predetermined slack, for example, a winding shaft. It is determined by the distance between the peripheral surface 224 of 220 and the rib 243. The rib 243 is provided at one position in the center of the intersecting portion of the vertical plate portion 242a and the horizontal plate portion 242b of the storage chamber cover 242 (the position facing the substantially central position in the width direction of the wound seal member 210). It is provided. The rib 243 is provided with a curved surface 244 facing the peripheral surface 224 of the winding shaft 220 at a predetermined distance and curved in the same direction as the peripheral surface 224 of the winding shaft 220. Curved surface 24
4 has a curvature set to be equal to or greater than that of the peripheral surface 224, and is formed as a smooth curved surface so that the seal member 210 wound around the shape can be smoothly guided. The predetermined distance is set in correspondence with a predetermined value of the winding diameter regulated by the winding diameter regulating mechanism, and the sealing member 21
It is a distance at which 0 can be wound with a predetermined slack.

The ridge 245 is formed such that the surface close to the winding shaft 220 is a surface substantially perpendicular to the lower wall 240a of the housing chamber 240 and the surface facing the introduction opening 241 is an inclined surface.
It is continuously provided in the part which divides 41. Ridge 2
The free end 211 of the seal member 210 accommodated in the accommodating chamber 240 is accompanied by the rotation of the winding shaft 220.
You have reached a position where you can come into contact with. In addition, the ridge 245 is not limited to the horizontal plate portion 242b, and the accommodation chamber 24
No. 0 bottom wall 240a, winding shaft 22 of introduction opening 241
It may be provided along the peripheral edge on the side close to zero.

The projection 242c is formed on the horizontal plate 242b.
The vertical plate portion 242a and the above-mentioned ridge 245 are provided at both ends in a direction orthogonal to the insertion direction (arrow X direction). The peripheral portion of the horizontal plate portion 242b has a vertical plate portion 242a, a protrusion 242c, and a ridge 245.
Is formed higher than the central part. Therefore, as will be described later, the horizontal plate portion 242b is provided in the storage chamber 240.
The toner that has fallen to the central portion of the is difficult to leak from the storage chamber cover 242.

Next, the operation of the toner cartridge 200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 4, 6 and 8. FIG.
Storage chamber cover 242, seal member 210, and winding shaft 22
0 is a cross-sectional view of the sealing member 210 wound around the winding shaft 220 so that the entire sealing member 210 is accommodated in the storage chamber 240.
Shows the state of being housed in. First, referring to FIG.
The surface 211b of the seal member 210 has a toner drop opening 2
Since 02 is blocked, toner is attached here. As the seal member 210 is wound and peeled off, the surface 211b becomes the lower surface side in FIG. 4, and is housed in the housing chamber 240 together with the attached toner. A part of the adhered toner (indicated by T1 in FIG. 8) falls from the seal member 210 to the lower surface wall 240a in the storage chamber 240.

Referring to FIG. 6, the winding shaft 220 is rotationally driven clockwise in FIG. Along with this, the surface 211b becomes the inner peripheral side of the winding of the seal member 210. At the beginning of winding, since the seal member 210 is attached to the lower surface 207 of the toner cartridge body 201, the seal member 210 is pulled between the winding shaft 220 and the portion attached to the lower surface 207. The diameter is suppressed.
In this state, the outer circumference of the wound seal member 210 and the rib 243 are not in contact with each other.

As the sealing member 210 is wound up, the winding diameter increases, and the sealing member 21
When 0 is completely peeled off from the lower surface portion 207, the pulled state is released, so that the seal member 210 is unwound, and the winding diameter is further increased. Then, when the winding diameter reaches a predetermined distance L as shown in FIG. 8, the outer periphery of the seal member 210 contacts the curved surface 244 of the rib 243, and further increase of the winding diameter is restricted.

After the free end 211 of the seal member 210 is completely housed in the housing chamber 240, the take-up shaft 22 will remain for a while.
0 is driven, and the wound seal member 210 rotates inside the accommodation chamber 240. With this rotation, the surface 211 of the free end 211 of the seal member 210, which is the outer circumferential side of the winding, is wound.
a is a surface 245a of the ridge 245 on the side closer to the winding shaft 220.
Contact and separate from. Due to the contact between the ridge 245 and the free end 211, the toner attached to the free end 211 is scraped off or wiped from the seal member 210 into the storage chamber 240.

In particular, the free end 211 of the seal member 210
However, when the rib 243 comes in contact with the curved surface 244 of the rib 243 and moves away from the bent state, the rib 243 is gently repelled and separated, and gently collides with the ridge 245. This collision promotes the removal of the toner attached to the free end 211. As described above, according to the present embodiment, the seal member 210 has the predetermined looseness and the winding shaft 220.
Since it is wound around, the seal member 210 and the winding shaft 220
Further, it is possible to reduce a load such as a frictional force applied from the winding diameter regulation mechanism. Therefore, the winding torque of the seal member 210 can be reduced as compared with the conventional method in which the seal member is constantly pressed against the winding shaft to limit the unraveling of the seal member.

Therefore, the output of the motor 333 for rotationally driving the winding shaft 220 can be reduced, and at the same time, the gear mechanism 33 for rotationally driving the winding shaft 220.
1 and the driven gear 230 can be lightened, and the reduction ratio can be reduced or simplified. Further, when the winding shaft 220 is driven manually, the sealing member 210 can be wound with a lighter force and quickly when the toner cartridge is replaced.

Further, since the seal member 210 does not come into contact with the rib 243 of the winding diameter regulating mechanism in the initial winding state, the sealing member 210 receives no force from the rib 243 and is wound as compared with the conventional method described above. The load acting on the shaft 220 can be further reduced. Further, the curved surface 244 of the rib 243 regulates the winding diameter of the sealing member 210 while guiding the winding, so that the sealing member 210 can be smoothly wound.
Therefore, the winding torque of the seal member 210 can be further reduced. In particular, by setting the curvature of the curved surface 244 to be equal to or greater than that of the peripheral surface 224 of the winding shaft 220, the seal member 210 can be guided and wound more smoothly. Moreover, since the curved surface 244 is a smooth curved surface, the seal member 210 is guided and wound more smoothly.

Further, since the rib 243 is a fixed member formed integrally with the housing chamber 240, the winding diameter of the seal member 210 can be regulated with a simple structure. Containment room 2
The toner (falling toner T2 in FIG. 8) that has fallen into the inside 40 is prevented from reaching the introduction opening 241 by the ridge 245, so that the toner does not flow from the introduction opening 241 into the storage chamber 2.
It is possible to prevent the toner in 40 from leaking out.

Further, when the seal member 210 is wound up, the free end 211 of the seal member 210 is fixed to the lower surface wall 240.
Even when the falling toner T2 on the surface a is swept, it is possible to prevent the swept moved falling toner T2 from reaching the introduction opening 241 by the ridge 245. Moreover, as shown in FIG.
The toner attached to the free end 211 is dropped into the storage chamber 240 by the contact with 1. Therefore, even when the free end 211 reaches above the introduction opening 241, the free end 21
It is possible to prevent the toner falling from the nozzle 1 from leaking out through the introduction opening 241.

In particular, the surface of the sealing member 210 on the seal side, that is, the surface 211a which is the back surface of the surface 211b to which the toner adheres, contacts the ridge 245 as the winding shaft 220 rotates. At this time, the free end 211 of the seal member 210
Is in contact with the ridge 245, the sealing member 210
Since the space 240d (see FIG. 8) that does not communicate with the introduction opening 241 is formed in the storage chamber 240 by the ridges and the ridges 245, it is possible to prevent the toner from reaching the introduction opening 241 and the toner leaks. It is possible to further prevent the sticking out.

Further, as shown in FIG. 6, the introduction opening 241 is formed obliquely with respect to the vertical direction (toner dropping direction), so that the leakage of the toner from the introduction opening 241 is suppressed. You can Further, the winding shaft 220
Are arranged so as to be displaced with respect to the introduction opening 241, most of the wound seal member 210 is not located directly above the introduction opening 241, and the toner dropped from the seal member 210 does not have the introduction opening 241. It is difficult to reach 241. Therefore, the toner leakage can be further suppressed.

In this way, it is possible to prevent the toner adhering to the seal member 210 and the falling toner in the storage chamber 240 from leaking out. Therefore, even if the toner cartridge 200 is tilted at the time of replacement, the storage chamber 240 can be tilted. The toner inside does not leak out. In the embodiment of the present invention, the seal member 210 is wound by the rib 243 with a predetermined slack. The predetermined looseness is sufficient if the seal member 210 is completely wound around the winding shaft 220 and the adjacent surfaces of the wound seal member 210 are not in contact with each other.

Further, in the embodiment of the present invention, the ridge 24
5 is provided, but when the introduction opening 241 is not provided in the lower surface portion of the accommodation chamber 240, the ridge 245 may not be provided. Further, the winding diameter regulation mechanism is not limited to the rib 243. For example, any member may be used as long as it is arranged at a position where the winding diameter can be regulated to a predetermined value by coming into contact with the outer circumference of the wound sealing member 210. Therefore, the rib is not limited to the housing chamber cover 242, and may be any rib as long as it is formed on the inner wall surface 240b of the housing chamber 240, and the rib is not limited to be integrated and may be formed separately. Further, the shape is not limited to the rib shape formed on the inner wall surface.

In addition, various design changes can be made without changing the gist of the present invention.

[0050]

According to the invention of claim 1, the winding diameter regulating means can reduce the load on the sealing member and the winding shaft by giving the sealing member a predetermined slack, The winding torque of the seal member can be reduced as compared with the conventional method of constantly pressing the seal member.

According to the invention of claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1, since the winding diameter of the seal member is regulated while being guided by the curved surface of the rib, the sealing member is smooth. To be wound up. According to the invention of claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention of claim 1,
When the free end comes into contact with the ridge due to the rotation of the winding shaft, the toner attached to the free end is dropped into the storage chamber, so that the toner can be prevented from leaking from the free end through the introduction opening. . Further, even if the toner that has fallen from the seal member in the storage chamber is swept away by the free end of the seal member that is being wound up, it is possible to prevent the toner from leaking from the introduction opening by the ridge.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a front sectional view of a schematic configuration of a copying machine as an image forming apparatus to which a toner replenishing device including a toner cartridge according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the copying machine.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner supply device.

FIG. 4 is a sectional side view of the toner cartridge.

FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of a storage chamber of the toner cartridge.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view of the storage chamber of the toner cartridge.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the accommodation chamber cover.

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional side view of a storage chamber of the toner cartridge in a state where the seal member is stored.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 200 toner cartridge 202 toner drop opening 210 seal member 211 free end of seal member 220 winding shaft 224 peripheral surface 240 accommodating chamber 240a lower surface wall 240b inner wall surface 240c lower surface portion 241 introduction opening 243 rib (winding diameter regulating means) 244 Curved surface 245 ridge

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A winding shaft which opens the toner dropping opening by peeling off a sealing member that closes the toner dropping opening, and a winding shaft which rotatably supports and accommodates the winding shaft. In a toner cartridge having a storage chamber having an introduction opening for introducing a seal member into the lower surface thereof, the inner wall surface of the storage chamber is wound with a predetermined looseness of the wound seal member. A toner cartridge, characterized in that a winding diameter regulating means for regulating the take-up diameter is provided. 2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the winding diameter restricting means is a rib integrally formed on an inner wall surface of the storage chamber, and the rib has a predetermined distance from a peripheral surface of the winding shaft. A toner cartridge characterized in that it has curved surfaces facing each other and curved in the same direction as the peripheral surface of the winding shaft, and that the winding diameter is regulated while guiding the winding of the seal member by this curved surface. 3. The toner cartridge according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the lower surface wall of the storage chamber extends toward the storage chamber along a peripheral edge portion of the introduction opening near the winding shaft, and A toner cartridge, characterized in that a free end of a seal member wound inside a chamber and a ridge that comes into contact with the rotation of a winding shaft are provided.