JPH1078698A - Toner cartridge and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: To provide a toner cartridge and an image forming apparatus capable of preventing toner scattered by toner conveyed on an outer wall surface of a toner case with rotation of a toner supply magnet roller. SOLUTION: In a toner cartridge 40 provided with a toner supply magnet roller 43 in the vicinity of a toner discharge port 41a formed in a part of a toner case 41,
The outer edge of a portion of the magnetic field forming region formed by the magnet roller 43 where a magnetic force capable of transporting the magnetic toner 44 with the rotation of the roller 43 is generated is located inside the outer wall surface of the toner case 41. Further, a toner storage section 46 for receiving and storing magnetic toner to be conveyed on the outer wall surface of the toner case 41 with the rotation of the magnet roller 43 may be provided. It is preferable to provide a shutter 47 that can be opened and closed freely at the toner receiving port 46a of the toner storing section 46.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner cartridge detachable from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile, a printer, and the like, and an image forming apparatus equipped with the toner cartridge.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a toner cartridge of this type, a magnetic toner (hereinafter, simply referred to as "toner") in a case is held and conveyed to a toner outlet formed in a part of the case by a magnetic force. 2. Description of the Related Art There is known a developing device provided with a magnet roller for supplying toner to a developing unit. When this magnet roller is used, it is possible to obtain excellent toner replenishing ability as compared with a toner replenishing member that does not use ordinary magnetic force, and it is possible to suppress toner scattering from the toner outlet.

[0003]

However, when a toner replenishing member such as a magnet roller is provided near the toner discharge port in the toner cartridge, when the toner cartridge is attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus, the toner discharge port is removed. There is a possibility that the toner may adhere to the vicinity and stain the toner outlet. Further, the toner adhering to the vicinity of the toner discharge port may cause the toner to be scattered into the apparatus and to cause the user to be stained by the toner.

When a magnet roller is used as the toner replenishing member, the rotation of the magnet roller is stopped when the toner cartridge is attached or detached, and the stopped magnet roller attracts toner by its magnetic force. It is possible to prevent the toner from dropping or scattering from the outlet. On the other hand, when the magnet roller is rotating, the magnetic force of the magnet roller acts on the toner adhering to the outer wall surface of the case near the toner discharge port, and the toner is transported in the rotation direction of the magnet roller. There is. While the magnetic force of the magnet roller acts on the toner conveyed on the outer wall surface of the case, toner scattering and the like can be prevented to some extent, but the amount of toner on the outer wall surface of the case increases. If the toner accumulates and cannot be held by the magnetic force of the magnet roller, the toner may be scattered in the machine, and the toner may be stained by the user.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent scattering of toner due to toner conveyed on an outer wall surface of a case due to rotation of a magnet roller for supplying toner. An object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge and an image forming apparatus.

[0006]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge having a toner replenishing magnet roller near a toner outlet formed in a part of a case. In the magnetic field forming region formed by the magnet roller, an outer edge of a portion where a magnetic force capable of transporting magnetic toner is generated with rotation of the magnet roller is located inside an outer wall surface of the case. It is characterized by the following.

In the toner cartridge of the first aspect,
In the magnetic field forming region formed by the magnet roller, there is no portion outside the outer wall surface of the case where a magnetic force capable of transporting the magnetic toner with the rotation of the magnet roller is generated. Therefore, the toner attached to the outer wall surface of the case near the toner outlet is not conveyed on the wall surface by the magnetic force of the magnet roller.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner cartridge having a toner replenishing magnet roller near a toner discharge port formed in a part of a case. The toner storage section is provided for receiving and storing magnetic toner to be conveyed on a wall surface.

In the toner cartridge of the second aspect,
Magnetic toner that is to be conveyed on the outer wall surface of the case with the rotation of the magnet roller is received and stored in the toner storage unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the toner cartridge of the second aspect, an openable and closable shutter is provided at a toner receiving port of the toner storing section.

In the toner cartridge according to the third aspect,
3. The toner cartridge according to claim 2, wherein when a user attaches or detaches the toner cartridge, a shutter provided at a toner receiving port of the toner storing section is closed so that the toner stored in the toner storing section does not go outside. I do.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus including a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier, wherein the developing unit includes the toner cartridge according to any one of the first to third aspects. It is characterized by being attached.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, when the toner cartridge according to any one of the first to third aspects is mounted and the magnet roller in the toner cartridge is driven, the toner cartridge is disposed near the toner discharge port of the toner cartridge. The attached toner is prevented from being conveyed on the outer wall surface of the case of the toner cartridge by the magnetic force of the magnet roller. Alternatively, the magnetic toner that is to be conveyed on the outer wall surface of the case with the rotation of the magnet roller is received and stored in a toner storage unit provided in the toner cartridge.

[0014]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a toner cartridge mounted on a laser printer as an image forming apparatus will be described below. FIG. 1 is a front view showing the entire structure of the laser printer according to the present embodiment. In a main body case 1 of the laser printer, a photoconductor 2 as an image carrier is provided at a substantially central portion thereof. Around the photoconductor 2, a charger 3, a developing unit 4, a transfer device 5, a cleaning device 6 and the like are arranged. Further, below the photoreceptor 2 and the like, a paper feed roller 9 for feeding the recording paper 7 as a recording medium one by one, and the fed recording paper 7 is sent to the transfer device 5 side at a predetermined timing. A registration roller 10 and the like are provided. Further, a fixing device 11 for fixing the image on the recording paper 7 transferred by the transfer device 5 is provided above the photosensitive member 2 and the like. A paper discharge roller 12 for discharging paper is provided. The stacker section 13 from which the recording paper 7 on which the image has been formed is discharged is formed on the upper surface of a main body cover 1a which is a part of the main body case 1. In addition, below the stacker section 13 in the main body case 1, an electrical section 5 housed in a metal case 14 is provided. The electrical unit 15 includes a controller board 16 and various adjustment switches and control units (not shown) mounted on the controller board 16.
Etc. Further, the main body case 1
A power supply 17 and an electrical board 18 are housed on the right side of the metal case 14 inside. Further, an optical device 20 for writing an image on the photoconductor 2 is provided below and to the right.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transfer device 5 and the fixing device 1 are provided on a part (right side in the figure) of the main body case 1.
1. A front cover 21 to which the paper discharge roller 12 is attached is provided. The front cover 21 is rotatable about a part of the main body case 1 as a fulcrum, and is configured to be able to perform replacement of a supply, processing when a recording paper jam occurs, and the like.

FIG. 3A is a front view showing the internal structure of the process unit 30 and the toner cartridge 40 of the laser printer. The two units 30 and 40 are configured as independent units, and the toner cartridge 40 is configured to be detachable from the process unit 30.

A photosensitive member 2 is attached to a right opening of a developing case 31 which is a case member of the process unit 30. A developing unit 4 formed by a part of the developing case 31 has a second developing roller 32, A first developing roller 33, a toner stirring member 34, a developing blade 35 for thinning the toner on the first developing roller 33, and the like are provided. Further, the developing case 31 of the developing section 4 is also provided with a neutralizing brush 36 for neutralizing the first developing roller 33 and a toner supply cover 37. On the toner supply cover 37, a seal member 38 for sealing the toner supply port 31a formed in the developing case 31 is attached.

On the other hand, in a toner case 41 which is a case member of a toner cartridge 40 mounted on the process unit 30, a NEW toner is contained and an agitator 42 is provided. Further, a magnet roller 43 is provided near the toner outlet 41a of the toner case 41 as a toner supply member. In the present embodiment, the magnet roller 43 having four magnetic poles each having two S poles and two N poles is used, but the number of magnetic poles is not limited to these four. The above toner case 4
On the upper part of 1, a cleaning device 6 including a cleaning member 61, a waste toner storage section 62 and the like, and the charger 3 are integrally formed.

The two units, the process unit 30 and the toner cartridge 40, are divided for the following reasons. That is, the period until the toner in the toner case 41 runs out and the life of the cleaning member 61 of the cleaning device 6 are shorter than the lives of the photoconductor 2 and the developing rollers 32 and 33. This is because if all of the cleaning device 6 and the like are integrally formed, parts that can still be used are discarded. Further, since the photoconductor 2 and the developing rollers 32 and 33 are higher in cost and other components, the running cost is reduced.
Dividing into one unit is more advantageous.

A handle 63 is provided on the upper surface of the waste toner storage section 62 of the cleaning device 6 integrally formed with the toner cartridge 40 so that the operator can easily attach and detach the same. By operating the handle 63, the toner cartridge 40 can be removed from the process cartridge 30 as shown in FIG.

In FIG. 3A, the process unit 3
The toner replenishing magnet roller 43 in the toner cartridge 40 mounted above the toner cartridge 40 is a NEW toner 44 which is a magnetic toner due to a magnetic force generated by a magnetic field formed by the roller.
The toner 44 is replenished from the toner outlet 41a onto the toner stirring member 35 of the developing unit 4 by rotating the roller in the direction of the arrow.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a toner discharge port 410a of a conventional toner cartridge 400. In the toner cartridge 400, the magnet roller 4
In the magnetic field forming region formed by 30, the tip of the outer edge of the portion 450 where a magnetic force capable of transporting the toner 44 with the rotation of the roller is generated is located outside the outer wall surface of the toner case 410. I have. Therefore, with the rotation of the magnet roller 430, the toner on the outer wall surface of the toner case 410 moves upward along the surface. The toner that has moved on the outer wall surface of the toner case 410 accumulates steadily above the toner case 410, and
If the toner cannot be held by the magnetic force of 30, the toner may be scattered in the machine, and the toner may stain the user.

Therefore, in the toner cartridge 40 used in the laser printer of the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the toner 44 is conveyed along with the rotation of the magnetic roller 43 in the magnetic field forming region formed by the magnet roller 43. The outer edge of the portion 45 where the obtained magnetic force is generated is the toner case 4
It is configured so as to be located inside the outer wall surface of No. 1.
In order to take such a configuration, the shape of the toner case 41 may be defined, or the strength of the magnet forming the magnet roller 44 may be defined.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, of the magnetic field forming region formed by the magnet roller 43,
The toner case 4 is configured such that the outer edge of a portion where a magnetic force capable of conveying the toner 44 is generated with the rotation of the toner case 41 is located inside the outer wall surface of the toner case 41.
1 can be prevented from moving upward. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner moving on the outer wall surface of the toner case 41 from scattering toner.

In the above-described embodiment, the outer edge of the portion where a magnetic force capable of transporting the toner 44 is generated is located inside the outer wall surface of the toner case 41. Then, as shown in FIG. 5A, a toner storage section 46 for receiving and storing the toner 44 to be conveyed on the outer wall surface of the toner case 41 with the rotation of the magnet roller 43 may be provided. In the configuration in which the toner storage section 46 is provided, the toner case 41
As shown in FIG. 5B, the toner 44 attached to the outer wall surface of the toner roller 44 moves in the direction of the arrow along the rotation direction of the magnet roller 43, but the toner 44 is received and accumulated in the toner storage portion 46. To go. Therefore, it is possible to prevent toner 44 scattered by the toner 44 conveyed on the outer wall surface of the toner case 41 with the rotation of the magnet roller 43.

In the configuration in which the toner storing section 46 is provided, a shutter 47 which can be opened and closed freely may be provided in the toner receiving port 46a of the toner storing section 46 as shown in FIG. The shutter 47 is configured to be swingable about a fulcrum 46b provided in a part of the toner storage section 46. The opening / closing mechanism of the shutter 47 controls the movement of the lever member 48 connected to the shutter 47 at the fulcrum 46b so as to swing integrally with the shutter 47, and the downward movement of the swing end 48a of the lever member 48. And a biasing means provided on the toner cartridge 40 side to urge the swinging end 48a of the lever member 48 downward so as to regulate at the position of the developing unit 4. It is configured using the spring 50. As shown in FIG. 6B, the toner cartridge 40
Is removed from the process unit 30 and removed from the laser printer, the stopper 49 is released from contact with the swing end 48a of the lever member 48, and the spring 50 causes the swing end 48a of the lever member 48 to be released. Moves downward, and the swinging tip of the shutter 47 contacts the outer wall surface of the toner case 41. By the contact of the swinging tip of the shutter 47, the toner receiving port 4
6a is closed, so that the toner 44 in the toner storing section 46 can be prevented from leaking outside.

[0027]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the portion of the magnetic field forming region formed by the magnet roller where the magnetic force capable of transporting the magnetic toner is generated does not exist outside the outer wall surface of the case. Since toner attached to the outer wall of the case near the toner outlet is not transported by the magnetic force of the magnet roller, toner scattered by the toner transported on the outer wall of the case as the magnet roller rotates is reduced. There is an effect that it can be prevented.

According to the second or third aspect of the present invention, the magnetic toner which is to be conveyed on the outer wall surface of the case with the rotation of the magnet roller is received and stored in the toner storing section. This has the effect of preventing toner from being scattered due to toner conveyed on the outer wall surface of the case with the rotation.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the user attaches or detaches the toner cartridge, the shutter of the toner storing section is closed so that the toner stored in the toner storing section does not go outside. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from scattering from the toner storing portion when the toner cartridge is attached and detached, and to prevent the user from being stained with the toner.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, by mounting the toner cartridge on the image forming apparatus, it is possible to prevent toner scattered by toner carried on the outer wall surface of the case with rotation of the magnet roller, and the like. This has the effect of preventing the inside of the image forming apparatus from being contaminated with toner. In particular, when the toner storage section having the shutter is provided in the toner cartridge, there is an effect that the image forming apparatus can be prevented from being contaminated by the toner in the toner storage section when the toner cartridge is attached or detached.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a laser printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial external view of the laser printer.

FIG. 3A is a schematic configuration diagram of a process unit and a toner cartridge used in the laser printer. (B) is a schematic configuration diagram of the process unit and the toner cartridge removed from the unit.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram of a magnetic force generating portion in the toner cartridge.

FIG. 5A is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a toner cartridge according to a modification. (B) is an enlarged view near the toner discharge port of the toner cartridge.

FIG. 6A is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of a toner cartridge according to another modification. (B) is a schematic configuration diagram of a main part of the toner cartridge in a state where the toner cartridge is removed from a process unit.

FIG. 7 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of a toner outlet of a toner cartridge according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Photoconductor 3 Charger 4 Developing unit 5 Transfer device 6 Cleaning device 30 Process unit 31 Developing case 40 Toner cartridge 41 Toner case 41a Toner discharge port 42 Agitator 43 Magnet roller 44 Toner 45 Magnetic force generating part 46 Toner storing part 46a Toner receiving Inlet 46b Supporting point 47 Shutter 48 Lever member 48a Swing end 49 Stopper 50 Spring

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A toner cartridge having a toner replenishing magnet roller in the vicinity of a toner discharge port formed in a part of a case. A toner cartridge, wherein an outer edge of a portion where a magnetic force capable of conveying magnetic toner is generated with rotation is located inside an outer wall surface of the case. 2. A toner cartridge provided with a toner replenishing magnet roller near a toner discharge port formed in a part of a case, wherein the toner cartridge is conveyed on an outer wall surface of the case with the rotation of the magnet roller. A toner cartridge having a toner storage unit for receiving and storing the magnetic toner to be used. 3. The toner cartridge according to claim 2, wherein an openable and closable shutter is provided at a toner receiving port of the toner storing section. 4. An image forming apparatus provided with a developing unit for developing a latent image formed on an image carrier, wherein the developing unit is provided with the toner cartridge according to claim 1. Image forming apparatus.