JP2003295592A - Integrated toner container - Google Patents
Integrated toner containerInfo
- Publication number
- JP2003295592A JP2003295592A JP2002101604A JP2002101604A JP2003295592A JP 2003295592 A JP2003295592 A JP 2003295592A JP 2002101604 A JP2002101604 A JP 2002101604A JP 2002101604 A JP2002101604 A JP 2002101604A JP 2003295592 A JP2003295592 A JP 2003295592A
- Authority
- JP
- Japan
- Prior art keywords
- toner
- container
- integrated
- unused
- longitudinal direction
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Pending
Links
Landscapes
- Dry Development In Electrophotography (AREA)
- Cleaning In Electrography (AREA)
Abstract
Description
【０００１】[0001]
【発明の属する技術分野】本発明は複写機、ファクシミ
リ、レーザープリンター等の画像形成装置に着脱可能な
トナー容器に係り、未使用トナー補給容器と廃トナーの
回収容器とをコンパクトに一体化した一体型トナー容器
に関する。BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a toner container which can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, a laser printer, etc., in which an unused toner supply container and a waste toner collection container are compactly integrated. Body toner container.
【０００２】[0002]
【従来の技術】電子写真方式の画像形成装置は、感光体
の表面近傍に配置された電子写真プロセス部材により電
子写真プロセスを実行することにより、帯電、露光の各
プロセスを経て感光体の表面に形成された静電潜像を現
像ユニットによりトナー像として可視像化した後、転写
紙に転写し定着した後、出力される。転写後の感光体
は、クリーニングプロセス、除電プロセスを経た後、前
記最初の電子写真プロセスである帯電プロセスに戻る。2. Description of the Related Art In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, an electrophotographic process member disposed in the vicinity of the surface of a photoconductor executes an electrophotographic process, so that the surface of the photoconductor is charged and exposed. The formed electrostatic latent image is visualized as a toner image by a developing unit, transferred to a transfer paper, fixed, and then output. After the transfer, the photoconductor goes through a cleaning process and a charge removal process, and then returns to the charging process which is the first electrophotographic process.
【０００３】一方、現像ユニット内のトナーは転写紙に
転写されることにより消耗するので、現像ユニットには
未使用トナー容器から未使用トナーが補充される。ま
た、二成分系トナーでは転写後に、感光体表面上の残留
トナーはクリーニング部材により払拭された後、廃トナ
ー回収容器に搬送されて一時保管され、未使用トナー容
器の再充填処理時（または未使用トナー容器の交換時）
に、容器ごと回収されて空容器に交換されていた。On the other hand, since the toner in the developing unit is consumed by being transferred onto the transfer paper, the developing unit is replenished with unused toner from an unused toner container. Further, in the case of the two-component toner, after the transfer, the residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor is wiped by the cleaning member, and then transported to the waste toner collecting container and temporarily stored, and when the unused toner container is refilled (or not). (When replacing the toner container used)
Then, the whole container was collected and replaced with an empty container.
【０００４】このような状況において、両容器の占める
スペースの節減を図り簡単な操作で未使用トナーの再充
填作業を行うことができ、現像ユニットへのトナーの補
給と廃トナー回収とを同時にできるように補給と回収の
各容器を一体化したトナー容器についての発明が特開昭
６１−１５３６８３号公報に記載されている。In such a situation, the space occupied by both containers can be saved, and the unused toner can be refilled by a simple operation, and the toner can be supplied to the developing unit and the waste toner can be collected at the same time. An invention relating to a toner container in which the supply and recovery containers are integrated is described in JP-A-61-153683.
【０００５】このトナー容器を図２の断面図により示
す。このトナー容器２１は現像装置へのトナー供給口２
６とクリーニング装置からの回収トナー取入口２５が設
けられた円筒状ボックスからなり、内部は未使用トナー
と使用済の回収トナー２４とが混合しないように柔らか
い仕切りシート１９により未使用トナー室２３と回収ト
ナー室２２とに分けられている。この容器２１の外周に
は前記供給口２６と取入口２５とを開閉するシャッター
２７が設けられている。This toner container is shown in the sectional view of FIG. The toner container 21 has a toner supply port 2 for the developing device.
6 and a cylindrical box provided with a collected toner inlet 25 from the cleaning device. Inside the unused toner chamber 23 is formed by a soft partition sheet 19 so that unused toner and used collected toner 24 are not mixed. It is divided into a recovery toner chamber 22. A shutter 27 that opens and closes the supply port 26 and the intake port 25 is provided on the outer periphery of the container 21.
【０００６】[0006]
【発明が解決しようとする課題】しかしながら、このト
ナー容器は以下に述べる点について、なお改良が望まれ
ている。すなわち、前記公報記載の発明の詳細な説明に
は、発明にかかる未使用トナーの充填方法について説明
されていないが、容器のリサイクルを考慮して、同公報
記載の図から推測されるように容器下側面のトナー補給
口から未使用トナーを再充填すると、通常、補給口の形
状が現像ユニットへの良好な補給を第一に考えて、円筒
形容器の長軸または長手方向に対応した長方形にされる
ことが多いので、トナーの充填中に補給口からトナーが
飛び出してくることが多く、周辺を汚しがちということ
があった。However, the toner container is still desired to be improved in the following points. That is, although the detailed description of the invention described in the above publication does not describe a method of filling unused toner according to the invention, in consideration of recycling of the container, as can be inferred from the drawings in the publication, When unused toner is refilled from the toner supply port on the lower surface, the shape of the supply port is usually a rectangle that corresponds to the long axis or the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical container, considering good replenishment to the developing unit first. In many cases, the toner is often ejected from the replenishing port during the filling of the toner, which tends to stain the surrounding area.
【０００７】また、前述のように廃トナーまたは未使用
トナーを各々回収口または補給口からそれぞれ回収また
は補給する際、容器中では、共に口の真下のフレキシブ
ル仕切りシートの凹面状の底部から順に堆積していくた
めに、容器内部の横方向に拡がるより先に堆積粉の先端
が補給口に達し、各室を充分に満杯にする前に容器から
溢れ出す傾向が両方に認められた。Further, as described above, when the waste toner or the unused toner is collected or replenished from the collecting port or the replenishing port, respectively, in the container, both are deposited in order from the concave bottom of the flexible partition sheet directly below the port. In order to do so, the tip of the deposited powder reached the replenishment port before it spreads laterally inside the container, and both tended to overflow from the container before fully filling each chamber.
【０００８】以上述べた点に鑑みて、本発明の目的は、
トナーの補給と回収の各容器を一体化して容器スペース
の節減を図るとともに、未使用トナーの充填または再充
填時および廃トナーの回収時に周辺を汚すことなく、ス
ムーズに充填および回収ができる一体型トナー容器を提
供することである。In view of the above points, the object of the present invention is to
The toner supply and recovery containers are integrated to save space in the container, and when filling or refilling unused toner and recovering waste toner, it is possible to smoothly fill and recover without polluting the surrounding area. To provide a toner container.
【０００９】[0009]
【課題を解決するための手段】請求項１記載の本発明に
よれば、前記目的は、容器の長手方向の下側面に設けら
れた未使用トナー補給口を有する未使用トナー室と、前
記容器の長手方向の上側面に設けられた廃トナー回収口
を有する廃トナー回収室と、前記両室を分けるフレキシ
ブル仕切部材と、前記容器の長手方向に略垂直な一方の
側面に未使用トナー充填口とを有する一体型トナー容器
において、前記フレキシブル仕切部材に平板状重り部材
が取り付けられた一体型トナー容器とすることにより、
達成される。According to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the object is an unused toner chamber having an unused toner supply port provided on a lower side surface in a longitudinal direction of the container, and the container. A waste toner recovery chamber having a waste toner recovery port provided on the upper side in the longitudinal direction of the container, a flexible partition member separating the chambers from each other, and an unused toner filling port on one side surface substantially vertical to the longitudinal direction of the container. In an integrated toner container having, by providing a flat weight member attached to the flexible partition member,
To be achieved.
【００１０】請求項２記載の本発明によれば、平板状重
り部材がフレキシブル仕切部材の略中央部に取り付けら
れている請求項１記載の一体型トナー容器とすることが
好ましい。According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is preferable to provide the integral toner container according to the first aspect in which the flat weight member is attached to a substantially central portion of the flexible partition member.
【００１１】請求項３記載の本発明によれば、未使用ト
ナー充填口が一体型トナー容器の長手方向に略垂直な一
方の側面の下部に設けられている請求項１記載の一体型
トナー容器とすることがいっそう好ましい。According to the present invention of claim 3, the unused toner filling port is provided in the lower part of one side surface substantially vertical to the longitudinal direction of the integrated toner container. Is more preferable.
【００１２】請求項４記載の本発明によれば、フレキシ
ブル仕切部材がポリエステルシートである請求項１乃至
３のいずれか一項に記載の一体型トナー容器とすること
がより好ましい。According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, it is more preferable that the flexible partition member is a polyester sheet, and the integrated toner container according to any one of the first to third aspects is used.
【００１３】請求項５記載の本発明によれば、平板状重
り部材がポリスチレン樹脂またはアクリロニトリルブタ
ジエンスチレン樹脂である請求項１乃至４のいずれか一
項に記載の一体型トナー容器とすることが望ましい。According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, it is preferable that the flat weight member is a polystyrene resin or an acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin to provide the integrated toner container according to any one of the first to fourth aspects. .
【００１４】[0014]
【発明の実施の形態】以下、本発明の一体型トナー容器
に関し、図を用いて詳細に説明する。本発明はその要旨
を超えない限り、以下に説明する実施例に限定されるも
のではない。BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The integrated toner container of the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the examples described below as long as the gist thereof is not exceeded.
【００１５】図１は本発明にかかる一体型トナー容器の
斜視図、図３は本発明にかかる一体型トナー容器の長手
方向の中央部を垂直に切った断面図、図４は従来の一体
型トナー容器で、図３と同位置の断面図、図５は本発明
にかかる一体型トナー容器であって、容器の長手方向の
中央部を垂直に切り、未使用トナー充填口の方向を見た
断面図、図６は本発明にかかる一体型トナー容器を用い
た画像形成装置の概略構成図である。FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an integrated type toner container according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the integrated type toner container according to the present invention taken along the vertical direction at the central portion in the longitudinal direction, and FIG. 4 is a conventional integrated type container. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the toner container at the same position as FIG. 3, and FIG. 5 is an integrated toner container according to the present invention, in which the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the container is cut vertically and the direction of the unused toner filling port is seen. FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the schematic arrangement of an image forming apparatus using the integrated toner container according to the present invention.
【００１６】図６に示す画像形成装置３０において、感
光ドラム１の外周面近傍にコロトロン等の帯電部材２、
露光装置３、現像ユニット６、転写装置５、紙等の被転
写体４、定着装置７、クリーニング装置８、除電部材
９、廃トナー搬送部材１０、一体型トナー容器１１等が
配設され、感光ドラム１の矢印方向への回転に対応して
前記各部材、装置による電子写真プロセスが実行される
と、目的の画像が定着装置７を経て印刷されて出力され
る。前記各プロセスの機能等は既によく知られた種々の
公知技術でもあるので、ここでは公知技術の範囲に属す
る部分については必要でない限り詳細な説明を省略す
る。In the image forming apparatus 30 shown in FIG. 6, a charging member 2 such as a corotron is provided near the outer peripheral surface of the photosensitive drum 1.
An exposure device 3, a developing unit 6, a transfer device 5, a transferred body 4 such as paper, a fixing device 7, a cleaning device 8, a charge removing member 9, a waste toner conveying member 10, an integrated toner container 11 and the like are provided, and the photosensitive member is exposed. When the electrophotographic process by the above-mentioned members and devices is executed in response to the rotation of the drum 1 in the direction of the arrow, the target image is printed and output via the fixing device 7. Since the functions and the like of the above-mentioned processes are well-known various well-known techniques, detailed description thereof will be omitted here unless it is necessary.
【００１７】[0017]
【実施例】本発明にかかる一体型トナー容器は、図６で
は符号１１で示される。感光層を塗布形成された感光ド
ラム１の表面はコロトロン２からのコロナ放電により、
所要の電位に一様帯電される。帯電された感光ドラム１
には、露光装置３により、目的の印字または画像パター
ンに対応する静電潜像が形成される。この静電潜像には
現像ユニット６からトナーが搬送されることにより、感
光ドラム１表面上でトナー現像され、転写装置５によ
り、紙等の被転写体４に転写され、定着装置７により定
着されて出力される。一方、前記感光ドラム上の残留ト
ナーはクリーニング装置８で払拭される。こうしてクリ
ーニングされた感光ドラム１は除電装置により除電され
た後、最初の帯電プロセスの位置に戻る。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT An integrated toner container according to the present invention is designated by reference numeral 11 in FIG. By the corona discharge from the corotron 2, the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 on which the photosensitive layer is applied and formed is
It is uniformly charged to the required potential. Charged photosensitive drum 1
An electrostatic latent image corresponding to a desired print or image pattern is formed by the exposure device 3. Toner is conveyed from the developing unit 6 to the electrostatic latent image, so that the toner is developed on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1, transferred by the transfer device 5 to the transfer target body 4 such as paper, and fixed by the fixing device 7. Is output. On the other hand, the residual toner on the photosensitive drum is wiped by the cleaning device 8. The thus-cleaned photosensitive drum 1 is returned to the position of the first charging process after being discharged by the discharging device.
【００１８】前記現像ユニット６内のトナーは前述のよ
うに電子写真プロセスにより１サイクル毎に消費される
ので、所定のスケジュールに従って一体型トナー容器１
１から補給される。この一体型トナー容器１１は図１に
示す斜視図の形状を有し、未使用トナー補給口１３を現
像ユニット６上の対応する受け口に合わせて載置され
る。この一体型トナー容器１１には図６に示すようにこ
の容器１１の円筒状の円弧外形に合わせたシャッター１
１１、１１２が設けられ、一体型トナー容器１１の外周
上を回転させることにより、回収口１２と補給口１３を
同時に開閉できるようになっている。Since the toner in the developing unit 6 is consumed for each cycle by the electrophotographic process as described above, the integrated toner container 1 according to a predetermined schedule.
Replenished from 1. The integrated toner container 11 has the shape of the perspective view shown in FIG. 1, and the unused toner supply port 13 is placed in conformity with the corresponding receiving port on the developing unit 6. As shown in FIG. 6, the integrated toner container 11 has a shutter 1 fitted to the cylindrical arc shape of the container 11.
11 and 112 are provided, and the recovery port 12 and the replenishment port 13 can be opened and closed at the same time by rotating the outer circumference of the integrated toner container 11.
【００１９】この一体型トナー容器１１の外形は図１の
斜視図に示すように、同一円筒の外周の一部を構成する
円弧状の上側面と円弧状の下側面とそれらを繋ぐ面によ
りおおよその外形が形成され、前記上側面に廃トナー回
収口１２、前記下側面に点線で示す未使用トナー補給口
１３および前記円筒の軸または長手方向に垂直な面で、
互いに平行な二側面のいずれか一方の面に未使用トナー
充填口１４をそれぞれ備えている。この充填口には未使
用トナーの充填後はキャップ１８による蓋が嵌め込まれ
た状態で使用に供される。この容器の筐体は価格、強度
等を考慮して材料としてポリスチレン（ＰＳ）樹脂を用
い、円筒状部分については、円弧状の上側面とそれ以外
の面に分けて成形し、別途成形になる前記平行２側面と
を組み合わせて容器１１を作製した。樹脂材料としては
ＰＳ樹脂の他にアクリロニトリルブタジエンスチレン
（ＡＢＳ）樹脂等も使用できるし、さらに価格と強度が
折合えば異なる別の樹脂であってもよい。As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 1, the outer shape of the integrated toner container 11 is roughly defined by an arc-shaped upper side surface and an arc-shaped lower side surface which form a part of the outer circumference of the same cylinder and a surface connecting them. The outer shape of the waste toner collecting port 12 on the upper side surface, the unused toner replenishing port 13 on the lower side surface shown by a dotted line, and the surface perpendicular to the axial or longitudinal direction of the cylinder.
An unused toner filling port 14 is provided on either one of the two side surfaces that are parallel to each other. After the unused toner is filled in the filling port, the cap 18 is fitted and used. The casing of this container is made of polystyrene (PS) resin as a material in consideration of price, strength, etc., and the cylindrical portion is separately molded into an arc-shaped upper side surface and other surfaces, which are separately molded. The container 11 was manufactured by combining the parallel two side surfaces. As the resin material, acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) resin or the like can be used in addition to PS resin, and another resin may be used if the price and the strength are compromised.
【００２０】この一体型トナー容器１１の内部は図３の
断面図に示すように、ポリエステルシートからなるフレ
キシブル仕切部材１９により、廃トナー回収室１６と未
使用トナー室１７に分けられている。ポリエステルシー
トの厚さは０．０１ｍｍのものを用い、ＰＳ樹脂の板に
両端を挟んで容器内に固定させた。ポリエステルシート
の大きさは未使用トナーと廃トナーの各必要量および相
対的変化量を考慮して容器の差し渡し長さより充分に長
くされている。図３では各室にそれぞれトナー１５を有
していることを点集合により示している。図３では各室
のトナー１５は同じように表示されているが、実際には
廃トナー回収室１６のトナーは廃トナーであり、未使用
トナー室１７のトナーは未使用トナーのように異なる。As shown in the sectional view of FIG. 3, the inside of the integrated toner container 11 is divided into a waste toner collecting chamber 16 and an unused toner chamber 17 by a flexible partition member 19 made of a polyester sheet. A polyester sheet having a thickness of 0.01 mm was used, and both ends were sandwiched between PS resin plates and fixed in the container. The size of the polyester sheet is sufficiently longer than the delivery length of the container in consideration of the required amounts of the unused toner and the waste toner and the relative changes. In FIG. 3, the fact that each chamber has toner 15 is shown by a point set. In FIG. 3, the toner 15 in each chamber is displayed in the same manner, but in reality, the toner in the waste toner collecting chamber 16 is waste toner, and the toner in the unused toner chamber 17 is different, such as unused toner.
【００２１】本発明はポリエステルシートからなる前記
仕切部材１９の中央部分に板状の重りの機能を有するＰ
Ｓ樹脂板２０が設けられていることを特徴とする。この
ＰＳ樹脂板２０は図６に示す上下関係で現像ユニット６
の上に載置される時、図３に示すようにＰＳ樹脂板２０
の重り機能によりフレキシブル仕切部材１９に平坦な底
部が形成されるので、未使用トナーが補給口１３から現
像ユニット６へ補給されて減少しＰＳ樹脂板２０が下へ
下がり、次に廃トナーが回収口１２から回収される際
に、回収された廃トナーが仕切部材１９の底部の平坦な
ＰＳ樹脂板を横方向に拡がり易くなり、廃トナーの回収
がスムースとなる。平板状重り部材２０は同様な機能、
価格を有するものであれば、他の材料を選択することも
できる。According to the present invention, the partition member 19 made of a polyester sheet has a function of a plate-like weight at the central portion thereof.
It is characterized in that an S resin plate 20 is provided. The PS resin plate 20 is placed in the developing unit 6 in the vertical relationship shown in FIG.
When placed on the PS resin plate 20 as shown in FIG.
Since the flat bottom portion is formed on the flexible partition member 19 by the weight function of, the unused toner is replenished to the developing unit 6 through the replenishment port 13 to be reduced, the PS resin plate 20 is lowered, and the waste toner is then recovered. When the waste toner is collected from the port 12, the collected waste toner easily spreads laterally on the flat PS resin plate at the bottom of the partition member 19, and the collection of the waste toner becomes smooth. The flat weight member 20 has the same function,
Other materials can be selected as long as they have a price.
【００２２】比較のために、フレキシブル仕切部材１９
に平板状重り部材２０の無いことだけが異なる図４に示
す従来のトナー容器により、廃トナーの回収状況を調べ
たところ、フレキシブル仕切部材１９として同じポリエ
ステルシートを用いた場合でも、シートの底部は凹面状
になり、廃トナーは横方向に拡がり難いため、早く回収
口から溢れ出る傾向があった。前記ＰＳ樹脂板２０の面
積は、長さ３３０ｍｍ、直径７０ｍｍφのトナー容器１
１の場合、長さ１００ｍｍ、幅２０ｍｍ、厚さ１ｍｍの
ものが最適であった。このＰＳ樹脂板の大きさは容器の
大きさ、トナーの種類とにより、適宜最適な大きさに変
えることができる。For comparison, the flexible partition member 19
When the state of waste toner recovery was examined by the conventional toner container shown in FIG. 4 except that the flat weight member 20 is not provided in the sheet, even when the same polyester sheet is used as the flexible partition member 19, the bottom of the sheet is Since the waste toner has a concave shape and is difficult to spread laterally, the waste toner tends to overflow from the recovery port quickly. The PS resin plate 20 has an area of 330 mm and a diameter of 70 mmφ.
In the case of 1, the length 100 mm, the width 20 mm, and the thickness 1 mm were optimal. The size of the PS resin plate can be changed to an optimum size depending on the size of the container and the type of toner.
【００２３】さらに、本発明にかかる一体型トナー容器
１１は未使用トナー１７の新規充填時または再充填時
に、トナー容器１１を立てた状態で、円筒の軸または長
手方向に垂直な面の上側面に設けられた未使用トナー充
填口１４からトナーを充填するようにされている。この
未使用トナー充填口１４の直径はトナー容器１１の大き
さによって変わるが、約７０ｍｍφの直径の容器の場合
は、２５ｍｍφの直径の円形穴が好ましい。図５では、
トナー容器１１の長手方向を立てた状態で、中央部分の
断面部分を底部側から上方の充填口方向を見た図であ
る。この図の点集合はトナーを表す。充填口１４はトナ
ーが充填されると見えないはずであるが、充填口の位置
を分かり易くするために書き込んだ。この状態では容器
１１内部ではポリエステルシート１９はその中央部分に
取り付けられたＰＳ樹脂板２０の重りにより、引張られ
た状態になり、従来のように充填口１４付近において弛
むことに起因するトナー充填時の障害が無くなった。Further, the integral type toner container 11 according to the present invention, when the unused toner 17 is newly filled or refilled, in the state where the toner container 11 is erected, the upper surface of the surface perpendicular to the axial or longitudinal direction of the cylinder. The toner is filled from an unused toner filling port 14 provided in the. The diameter of the unused toner filling port 14 varies depending on the size of the toner container 11, but in the case of a container having a diameter of about 70 mmφ, a circular hole having a diameter of 25 mmφ is preferable. In FIG.
FIG. 3 is a view of the cross-sectional portion of the central portion as viewed from the bottom side toward the upper filling port direction with the longitudinal direction of the toner container 11 standing upright. The point set in this figure represents toner. The filling port 14 should not be visible when the toner is filled, but it is written to make the position of the filling port easy to understand. In this state, inside the container 11, the polyester sheet 19 is in a pulled state due to the weight of the PS resin plate 20 attached to the central portion thereof, and when the toner is filled due to slack in the vicinity of the filling port 14 as in the conventional case. The obstacle has disappeared.
【００２４】トナー充填口１４の位置はトナー容器１１
の未使用トナー室１７の長手方向に垂直な外側側面であ
って、中央部より下方側が良い。好ましくは、ＰＳ樹脂
板２０の重りが取り付けられたポリエステルシート１９
のＰＳ樹脂板２０が充填口１４の真下にかからない位置
とすることが良い。このように未使用トナー充填口１４
の位置を未使用トナー室１７の長手方向に垂直な外側側
面とすることにより、トナー充填時にトナーによる周辺
汚染の問題がほとんどなくなり、充填の効率が向上す
る。特に、コンパクトな画像形成装置においては、許容
印刷枚数を多くするために未使用トナーの充填率をでき
る限り高くする必要があるので、トナー充填口１４の位
置を前述のようにすることの意義が大きい。The toner filling port 14 is located at the toner container 11
The outer side surface perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the unused toner chamber 17 is preferably located below the central portion. Preferably, the polyester sheet 19 to which the weight of the PS resin plate 20 is attached
It is preferable that the PS resin plate 20 is not positioned directly below the filling port 14. Thus, the unused toner filling port 14
By arranging the position of (1) on the outer side surface perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the unused toner chamber 17, there is almost no problem of peripheral contamination by the toner when the toner is filled, and the filling efficiency is improved. In particular, in a compact image forming apparatus, it is necessary to increase the unused toner filling rate as much as possible in order to increase the allowable number of prints. Therefore, it is important to set the position of the toner filling port 14 as described above. large.
【００２５】廃トナー回収口１２の位置は一体型トナー
容器１１を構成する円弧状の上側面の長手方向のほぼ中
央に形成され、その穴の大きさは長手方向に３０ｍｍ、
幅１５ｍｍの矩形とした。幅方向の位置では中央より少
し縁に寄った場所の方が中央部よりもスムースな回収が
でき、周辺の汚れも少なかった。前記クリーニング装置
８により集められた感光体表面の残留トナーは、廃トナ
ーとして廃トナー搬送部材１０を構成するスパイラル回
転軸によって、クリーニング装置８から前記一体型トナ
ー容器１１へ搬送され、容器１１の前記回収口１２から
容器１１内へ送り込まれる。容器１１内の廃トナー回収
室に入った廃トナーは、回収口１２の真下のポリエステ
ルシート１９の傾斜部を滑り落ち、ＰＳ樹脂からなる平
板状重り部材２０に達する。この重り部材２０は平らな
ので、トナーはこの板が無い場合に比べて比較的横方向
に拡がり易く、その分回収がスムースに行なわれる。The position of the waste toner recovery port 12 is formed substantially at the center in the longitudinal direction of the arc-shaped upper side surface constituting the integrated toner container 11, and the size of the hole is 30 mm in the longitudinal direction.
It was a rectangle with a width of 15 mm. In the widthwise position, the area slightly closer to the edge than the center was able to collect smoothly and was less dirty around the area. The residual toner on the surface of the photoconductor collected by the cleaning device 8 is conveyed as the waste toner from the cleaning device 8 to the integrated toner container 11 by the spiral rotation shaft that constitutes the waste toner conveying member 10, and the toner in the container 11 is removed. It is sent from the recovery port 12 into the container 11. The waste toner that has entered the waste toner collecting chamber in the container 11 slides down the inclined portion of the polyester sheet 19 directly below the collecting port 12 and reaches the flat weight member 20 made of PS resin. Since the weight member 20 is flat, the toner is relatively easy to spread in the lateral direction as compared with the case where this plate is not provided, and the recovery can be smoothly performed by that amount.
【００２６】[0026]
【発明の効果】本発明によれば、容器の長手方向の下側
面に設けられた未使用トナー補給口を有する未使用トナ
ー室と、前記容器の長手方向の上側面に設けられた廃ト
ナー回収口を有する廃トナー回収室と、前記両室を分け
るフレキシブル仕切部材と、前記容器の長手方向に略垂
直な一方の側面に未使用トナー充填口とを有する一体型
トナー容器において、前記フレキシブル仕切部材に平板
状重り部材が取り付けられている一体型トナー容器とし
たので、トナーの補給と回収の各容器を一体化して容器
スペースの節減を図るとともに、未使用トナーの充填ま
たは再充填時および廃トナーの回収時に周辺を汚すこと
なく、スムーズに充填および回収ができる一体型トナー
容器を提供できる。According to the present invention, the unused toner chamber having the unused toner supply port provided on the lower side surface in the longitudinal direction of the container, and the waste toner recovery provided on the upper side surface in the longitudinal direction of the container. In the integrated toner container having a waste toner collecting chamber having an opening, a flexible partitioning member separating the two chambers, and an unused toner filling opening on one side surface substantially vertical to the longitudinal direction of the container, the flexible partitioning member is provided. Since it is an integrated toner container with a flat weight member attached to it, the toner supply and recovery containers are integrated to save the container space, and at the time of filling or refilling unused toner and waste toner. It is possible to provide an integrated toner container that can be smoothly filled and collected without contaminating the surrounding area at the time of collection.
【図１】本発明にかかる一体型トナー容器の斜視図FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an integrated toner container according to the present invention.
【図２】従来の一体型トナー容器の断面図FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a conventional integrated toner container.
【図３】本発明にかかる一体型トナー容器の長手方向の
中央部を垂直に切った断面図FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in which the central portion in the longitudinal direction of the integrated toner container according to the present invention is cut vertically.
【図４】従来の一体型トナー容器で、図３と同位置の断
面図FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a conventional integrated toner container at the same position as in FIG.
【図５】本発明にかかる一体型トナー容器の長手方向の
中央部を垂直に切り、未使用トナー充填口の方向を見た
断面図FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the integrated toner container according to the present invention in which the central portion in the longitudinal direction is cut vertically and the direction of an unused toner filling port is viewed.
【図６】本発明にかかる一体型トナー容器を用いた画像
形成装置の概略構成図である。FIG. 6 is a schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus using an integrated toner container according to the present invention.
１１ 一体型トナー容器 １２ 廃トナー回収口 １３ 未使用トナー補給口 １４ 未使用トナー充填口 １５ トナー １６ 廃トナー回収室 １７ 未使用トナー室 １９ フレキシブル仕切部材（ポリエステルシート） ２０ 平板状重り部材 11 Integrated toner container 12 Waste toner collection port 13 Unused toner supply port 14 Unused toner filling port 15 toner 16 Waste toner collection room 17 unused toner chamber 19 Flexible partition member (polyester sheet) 20 Flat weight member
Claims (5)
使用トナー補給口を有する未使用トナー室と、前記容器
の長手方向の上側面に設けられた廃トナー回収口を有す
る廃トナー回収室と、前記両室を分けるフレキシブル仕
切部材と、前記容器の長手方向に略垂直な一方の側面に
未使用トナー充填口とを有する一体型トナー容器におい
て、前記フレキシブル仕切部材に平板状重り部材が取り
付けられていることを特徴とする一体型トナー容器。1. An unused toner chamber having an unused toner supply port provided on a lower side surface in a longitudinal direction of a container, and a waste toner recovery having a waste toner recovery port provided on an upper side surface in a longitudinal direction of the container. In the integrated toner container having a chamber, a flexible partition member separating the both chambers, and an unused toner filling port on one side surface substantially vertical to the longitudinal direction of the container, a flat weight member is provided on the flexible partition member. An integrated toner container characterized by being attached.
の略中央部に取り付けられていることを特徴とする請求
項１記載の一体型トナー容器。2. The integrated toner container according to claim 1, wherein the flat weight member is attached to a substantially central portion of the flexible partition member.
の長手方向に略垂直な一方の側面の中央より下方側に設
けられていることを特徴とする請求項１または２記載の
一体型トナー容器。3. The integrated toner according to claim 1, wherein the unused toner filling port is provided below the center of one side surface substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the integrated toner container. container.
ートであることを特徴とする請求項１乃至３のいずれか
一項に記載の一体型トナー容器。4. The integrated toner container according to claim 1, wherein the flexible partition member is a polyester sheet.
はアクリロニトリルブタジエンスチレン樹脂であること
を特徴とする請求項１乃至４のいずれか一項に記載の一
体型トナー容器。5. The integrated toner container according to claim 1, wherein the flat weight member is polystyrene resin or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene resin.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2002101604A JP2003295592A (en) | 2002-04-03 | 2002-04-03 | Integrated toner container |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2002101604A JP2003295592A (en) | 2002-04-03 | 2002-04-03 | Integrated toner container |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| JP2003295592A true JP2003295592A (en) | 2003-10-15 |
Family
ID=29241888
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| JP2002101604A Pending JP2003295592A (en) | 2002-04-03 | 2002-04-03 | Integrated toner container |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JP2003295592A (en) |
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| JP2005292300A (en) * | 2004-03-31 | 2005-10-20 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Image forming apparatus and developer storage container used for the image forming apparatus |
| JP2008009394A (en) * | 2006-05-31 | 2008-01-17 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Toner cartridge, method for manufacturing toner cartridge, image forming apparatus and unit |
| JP2008065095A (en) * | 2006-09-08 | 2008-03-21 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Powder collection device, process cartridge, and image forming apparatus |
| JP2008096810A (en) * | 2006-10-13 | 2008-04-24 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Toner conveying device, process cartridge and image forming apparatus |
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| JP2008191305A (en) * | 2007-02-02 | 2008-08-21 | Ricoh Co Ltd | Developing device, image forming apparatus, and process cartridge |
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