JP4014335B2 - Toner supply device and image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device that is attached to a developing device such as a copying machine, a facsimile machine, or a printer. More specifically, the toner container is rotationally driven to discharge internal toner and to the developing unit of the developing device. The present invention relates to a toner replenishing device that performs replenishment.
[0002]
[Prior art]
Conventionally, in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, a developing device that visualizes an electrostatic latent image formed on a latent image carrier is provided with a toner replenishing device for replenishing toner to the developing unit. It has been. As this toner replenishing device, one having a configuration in which a toner container that contains toner is detachable is known. For example, the present applicant has proposed a mechanism in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 7-20705 for exchanging a cylindrical toner storage container while keeping the container mounting holder in a horizontal state. In this mechanism, the opening of the cylindrical toner storage container is placed on the container mounting holder with the cap on, and the cap is automatically opened using a collet chuck interlocked with the cylindrical toner storage container mounting operation. I am doing so.
[0003]
The cylindrical toner container used in this mechanism has a substantially cylindrical shape, and an opening having a slightly smaller diameter than the cylindrical portion is formed on one end surface thereof. The entire end wall of the opening is open. A spiral protrusion is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion to convey the toner contained therein to the opening side by the rotation of the cylindrical toner container. The opposite side of the opening is closed by a bottom surface, and a container drive rib for rotating the cylindrical toner container is formed outside the bottom surface.
[0004]
In the cylindrical toner container having the above-described configuration, it is necessary to reduce the contact area between the opening and the cap in order to facilitate the removal of the cap, and the opening has a smaller diameter than that of the main body cylindrical portion. . For this reason, since the fluidity of the toner near the opening is deteriorated, the opening is blocked with the toner depending on the physical properties of the toner. Therefore, when the cap is closed, there is a problem that the toner in the opening portion becomes a resistance and the closing may be incomplete.
[0005]
The present applicant has proposed a toner replenishing device having a configuration in which a loosening member having elasticity that enters the opening of the cylindrical toner container at the opening position is provided in the cap in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-96959. However, the cylindrical toner container configured as described above has an effect of preventing toner aggregation at the opening and the like and preventing deterioration of fluidity, but it has only an effect of loosening the toner. Certainty has not been improved.
[0006]
Further, the present applicant has proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-34234 which is provided with a driving means capable of rotating the cylindrical toner container in the forward and reverse directions. In this mechanism, the cylindrical toner container is rotationally driven by the driving means, and the toner is prevented from remaining attached to the inner wall of the cylindrical toner container due to a change in the movement of the toner when the rotation direction is switched. Yes. However, in this mechanism, even if the toner is prevented from adhering to the inner wall of the cylindrical toner container, the amount of toner in the vicinity of the opening does not change, and the reliability of closing the cap is improved. Not.
Further, the toner replenishing device using the cylindrical toner container having this configuration is provided with a toner replenishing blade as a toner conveying means for sending the toner discharged from the opening of the cylindrical toner container to the developing device. . The toner replenishing blade rotates with the rotation of the cylindrical toner container. However, when the cylindrical toner container is rotated in the reverse direction, there is a possibility that the toner supply blade provided in the toner supply device bends in a reverse direction.
[0007]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems.EyesThe target is to ensure that the cap of the toner container is closed, to prevent the cap from being closed poorly, and even if the toner container is rotated in the direction opposite to the rotation direction of the toner replenishing operation, Toner supply device that does not cause problems due to rotationAnd image forming apparatusIs to provide.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
  UpNoteIn order to achieve this, the invention according to claim 1 is directed to a toner storage container that applies a conveying action to the stored toner in one direction by a rotation operation, and an opening formed on one end side of the container main body of the toner storage container. A cap for closing the toner container, container holding means for holding the toner storage container in a state in which toner can be introduced from the opening to the toner introduction portion of the developing device, and the toner storage container held by the container holding means A toner replenishing device having a rotation driving means for rotating the toner around the central axis, and having a toner feeding means for feeding the toner in the opening to the back side of the toner containerThe
[0009]
  ThereforeThe toner feeding means feeds the toner in the opening to the back side of the toner container and prevents the opening from being blocked by the toner, so that the cap can be reliably closed.
  As the toner feeding means, there are means for tilting the toner container itself and feeding toner to the back side, means for providing a member for feeding toner in the opening, and the like.
The invention according to claim 1 uses the rotational driving force transmitting means for transmitting the rotational driving force of the toner container to the container holding means side, and the rotational driving force transmitted by the rotational driving force transmitting means. A toner conveying means for introducing the toner into a toner introducing portion of the developing device, and the rotational driving force transmitting means only receives a rotational driving force in a rotational direction in which the toner container performs a toner replenishing operation. The rotation driving force in the direction opposite to the rotation direction is not transmitted.
Therefore, when the toner container is rotated in the reverse direction, a reverse rotational driving force is not transmitted to the container holding means, and the toner conveying means is not rotated. As a result, it is possible to prevent problems caused by the toner conveying means rotating in the reverse direction. This defect is, for example, a problem such that a toner supply blade as a toner conveying unit is bent or damaged.
[0010]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing device according to the first aspect, the toner feeding member for feeding the toner in the opening to the back side of the toner container with the cap open, and the toner container include the toner container Control means for controlling the rotation driving means to rotate the toner container in a direction opposite to the rotation direction in which the toner supply operation is performed when the toner supply operation is not performed with respect to the developing device. The toner feeding member rotates relative to the opening to feed the toner in the opening to the back side of the toner container.
[0011]
In this toner replenishing device, when the toner replenishing operation is not performed, the toner container is rotated in a direction opposite to the rotation direction in which the toner replenishing operation is performed. When the toner container rotates in the reverse direction, the toner feeding member provided in the cap rotates relative to the opening, and the toner in the vicinity of the opening is removed from the back of the toner container. Can be sent to the side. Thus, the toner near the opening is reduced, and the cap is prevented from being incompletely closed due to the resistance of the toner.
The toner feeding member may be configured such that a loosening member for loosening the toner in the opening in the open state is disposed on the cap.
[0012]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the toner replenishing device according to the second aspect, the operation for rotating the toner container in the direction opposite to the rotation direction for performing the toner replenishing operation is performed at the end of a series of image forming operations. The control means is controlled.
[0013]
In this toner replenishing device, the reverse rotation operation of the toner container is not performed during a series of image forming operations, but is performed when the image forming operations are completed. During the image forming operation, the toner is not sent to the inner side of the toner container, so that shortage of toner near the opening of the toner container can be prevented and replenishment can be performed without time difference when toner replenishment is necessary. Thereby, it is possible to reliably perform the plugging operation and to prevent the followability of toner replenishment from being deteriorated.
[0016]
  Claim4The invention of claim1, 2, or 3In the toner replenishing device, the rotational driving force transmitting means is driven by engaging with a convex shape provided on an end wall surface on one end side where the opening of the toner container is formed, and the convex shape. And a plurality of engaging portions provided in the container holding means for transmission, and the rotation driving means is arranged so that the rotation amount for rotating the toner container in the reverse direction is less than one rotation. It is characterized by controlling.
[0017]
In this toner replenishing device, the convex shape and the engaging portion are engaged to transmit the rotational driving force of the toner container to the container holding means.
When the toner container is rotated in the reverse direction and the engagement between the convex shape and the engaging portion is released, the toner shape is not related to the convex shape until the toner container is rotated once in the reverse direction. It does not engage with the joint again. Further, the rotation amount when the toner container is rotated in the reverse direction is controlled to be less than one rotation by the rotation driving means.
Thus, even if the toner container rotates in the reverse direction, the rotation of the toner container stops before the reverse rotational driving force is transmitted to the container holding means. Accordingly, the rotational driving force in the reverse direction is not transmitted to the container holding means, and the toner conveying means is not rotationally driven in the reverse direction.
[0018]
  Claim5The invention of claim1, 2, or 3In the toner replenishing device, the rotational driving force transmitting means has a one-way clutch mechanism.
[0019]
  In this toner replenishing device, since the rotational driving force transmitting means has a one-way clutch mechanism, the toner container transmits a rotational driving force in the rotational direction for performing the toner replenishing operation, and the direction opposite to the rotational direction is transmitted. The rotational driving force is not transmitted. Thereby, the malfunction which generate | occur | produces when the rotational driving force of a reverse direction is transmitted to this container holding means can be prevented.
  Further, since the time for rotating the toner container in the reverse direction can be arbitrarily set, the toner in the vicinity of the bottle opening of the toner container can be sufficiently transported to the back side to further ensure the closing operation. .
  Here, the one-way clutch mechanism can be constituted by, for example, a ratchet mechanism having a pawl wheel and a detent inside.
The invention of claim 6 is an image forming apparatus comprising a toner replenishing device,
A toner replenishing device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is used.
[0020]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[Embodiment 1]
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an image forming apparatus according to the present invention. In FIG. 1, a photosensitive drum 1 which is a latent image carrier is disposed in a process cartridge 40, and is arranged close to or around the photosensitive drum 1. A charging roller 2 that contacts and charges a uniform charge on the photosensitive drum 1, a neutralizing light 7 for neutralizing the photosensitive drum 1, and an unillustrated for forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1 The laser beam 3 from the exposure means, the developing sleeve 4 for attaching the toner to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 1, the transfer roller 5 for transferring the toner image to the transfer paper, and the residual toner on the photosensitive drum 1 are removed. A cleaning blade 6 and a toner transport coil 8 for transporting the toner removed by the cleaning blade 6 to a recycle toner transport unit (not shown) are arranged. The developing sleeve 4 has a fixed shaft in which a five-pole magnet is disposed, and has a configuration in which the outer peripheral surface is covered with a nonmagnetic pipe material, and controls the inflow amount of toner in the vicinity of the sleeve. A doctor blade 10 and a stirring screw 11 for circulating and stirring the developer are arranged. The photosensitive drum 1, the charging roller 2, the developing sleeve 4 and the like are housed in an integral photosensitive member case 42.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 1, a toner replenishing device 41 is mounted on the toner introducing portion 12 of the process cartridge 40, and the toner replenishing device 41 guides the cradle 18 and toner to the toner introducing portion 12. A bottle holding member 16 having a plurality of toner replenishing blades 17 attached thereto is pivotally supported so as to rotate in the arrow M direction.
[0022]
In this configuration, the photosensitive drum 1 is neutralized by the neutralizing light 7, and the surface potential is averaged to a reference potential of 0 to 150V. Next, it is charged by the charging roller 2 and the surface potential becomes around −1100V. Next, the surface potential (image portion) irradiated with the laser beam 3 for exposure has a surface potential of 0 to -290 V, and the developing sleeve 4 of this image portion is biased to about -800 V. The toner on 4 adheres. The photosensitive drum 1 on which the toner image is formed rotates and moves, and a transfer sheet is sent from a sheet feeding unit (not shown) at a timing such that the leading end of the sheet and the leading end of the image coincide with each other at the five transfer rollers. In part 5, the toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 1 is transferred to the transfer paper. The transferred transfer paper is sent to a fixing unit (not shown), and the toner is fused to the transfer paper by heat and pressure and discharged as a copy. On the other hand, after the residual toner remaining on the photosensitive drum 1 is scraped off by the cleaning blade 6, the residual charge is removed from the photosensitive drum 1 by the neutralizing light 7, the toner is removed, and the next image forming process is performed again. Migrate to
[0023]
Next, the toner replenishing device 41 will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, reference numeral 13 denotes a rotation driving unit, which is a driving unit that drives the toner replenishing device 41. And is fixed to a main body rear side plate 31 (see FIG. 5) of a copying machine or the like. Reference numeral 14 denotes a toner storage container (hereinafter referred to as a toner bottle), which has protrusions 14a and 14b (convex shape) at the bottom. 14b enters the concave portion 13b of the joint 13c and functions to hold the bottom of the toner bottle 14, and 14a is a projection for fitting the convex side surface 13a of the joint 13c and rotating the toner bottle 14. is there. The height H of the protrusion 14b is formed to be higher than the height h of the protrusion 14a (H> h). Reference numeral 16 denotes a bottle holding member for holding the head of the toner bottle 14. A toner replenishing blade 17 made of an elastic material such as Mylar or rubber is attached to a rib 16a that is a kind of agitator integrally formed with the bottle holding member 16 with a double-sided tape or the like. In this embodiment, four toner supply blades 17 are provided.
[0024]
As shown in FIG. 3B, the toner bottle 14 is provided with a spiral protrusion 14e on its inner wall surface, and the toner is discharged from the toner discharge port 14d by rotating the protrusion 14e. The toner discharge port 14d is fitted with a cap 15 that prevents the toner from being discharged. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the driving rib 16 b provided on the inner wall surface of the bottle holding member 16 engages with the driving transmission protrusion 14 c provided on the head of the toner bottle 14, and the bottle holding member 16 The toner bottle 14 is integrally rotated in the forward rotation direction.
[0025]
As shown in FIG. 2, 20 is a sealing material, 21 is a collet chuck for picking and releasing the cap 15, and is built in the cylindrical case 22 and integrated with the shaft member 23 by a screw 24. Reference numeral 25 denotes a seal member, and 28 denotes a coil spring that constantly pressurizes a series of parts such as the collet chuck 21, the cylindrical case 22, and the shaft member 23 toward the toner bottle 14. 18 is held in a case 18a which is a container holding means formed integrally with the H18. Reference numeral 26 denotes a handle for opening and closing the cap 15, and the shaft portion 26b enters the bearing portion 32 of the case 18a so as to be rotatable.
[0026]
Reference numeral 27 denotes a slide shaft that enters a hole 23 a provided in the shaft member 23, and is in contact with a cam portion 26 a provided in the handle 26, and the collet chuck 21, the cylindrical case 22, and the shaft member are rotated by the rotation of the handle 26. A series of 23 parts can be slid away from the toner bottle 14.
[0027]
An opening 18c that is provided in the case 18a and allows the toner discharged from the toner discharge port 14d of the toner bottle 14 supported by the cradle 18 to communicate with the toner introducing portion 12 (see FIG. 1) of the process cartridge 40 is provided in the opening 18c. An elastic member 19 made of an elastic material such as Mylar or rubber and having a slit hole 19a that is a long and narrow square hole in a direction (horizontal direction) perpendicular to the moving direction of the toner supply blade 17 is attached with a double-sided tape or the like. ing. How to set the opening area of the slit hole 19a, that is, the length (horizontal direction) and width K of the slit hole 19a (moving direction of the toner replenishing blade 17, see FIG. 1) are set appropriately, thereby supplying the toner replenishment amount. Is in an appropriate amount. In this embodiment, the toner supply blade 17 is attached to the rib 16a so that the protrusion amount of the toner supply blade 17 from the slit hole 19a is about 1 mm.
[0028]
Reference numeral 29 denotes a cover for guiding the toner discharged from the slit hole 19 a to the toner introducing portion 12 of the process cartridge 40, and an opening 29 a is provided on the lower side of the cover 29. Corresponds to the position. As shown in FIG. 5, the toner replenishing device 41 having such a configuration is held by a main body rear side plate 31 and a guide plate 36 attached to a main body front side plate (not shown). Reference numeral 18b integrated with the cradle 18 is a hole that engages with a positioning pin provided on a front plate (not shown), and a stopper (not shown) for preventing deviation of the toner replenishing device 41 serves as the guide plate. Installed on. Therefore, the toner replenishing device 41 of this embodiment includes a mechanism part composed of a case 18a and movable parts such as a bottle holding member 16 incorporated therein, a toner bottle 14 that can be attached to and detached from this mechanism part, and a drive. Part 13.
[0029]
In the above configuration, first, the operation when the toner replenishing device 41 is set will be described. As shown in FIG. 5, when the cradle 18 is pulled out from the guide plate 36 and the steps 40 and 41 of the cradle 18 are caught by the notches 38 and 39 of the guide plate 36, the toner is filled. The toner bottle 14 thus placed is placed and set on the cradle 18 as indicated by an arrow D. Next, with the toner bottle 14 set, the toner replenishing device 41 is set by sliding on the guide plate 36 in the direction of arrow E. As a result, the protrusion 14b at the bottom of the toner bottle 14 enters the positioning hole 13b of the joint 13c and is positioned, and the head of the bottle 14 engages with the bottle holding member 16 respectively. At this time, the setting of the toner replenishing device 41 is completed by pressing the stopper against the front surface of the cradle 18.
[0030]
Then, as shown in FIG. 5, when the handle 26 is rotated in the direction of arrow A (downward), the cam portion 26a (see FIG. 2) causes the slide shaft 27 to move in the direction of arrow C as shown in FIG. As it is pulled, the shaft 23 also starts to move in the C direction, and the collet chuck 21 comes into contact with the protrusion 22a of the cylindrical case 22, and accordingly, the collet chuck 21 starts to close and the cap 15 is picked. When the movement in the C direction further proceeds in this state, as shown in FIG. 7, the cap 15 of the toner bottle 14 is removed by the collet chuck 21, and the toner in the toner bottle 14 flows out into the case 18a (toner If there is little toner in the bottle 14, it will not flow out at this time). This state is a state where the toner replenishing device 41 is completely set.
[0031]
Here, in FIG. 7, the cap 15 is provided with two loosening members 15a extending in the direction of entering the toner bottle 14 main body on the surface of the toner bottle 14 main body side, that is, the surface opposite to the knob portion of the cap 15. Yes. The cap 15 and the loosening member 15a are made by integrally molding a plastic material, for example, polyethylene. The loosening member 15a has a length that penetrates the toner discharge port 14d and the collar portion 14f subsequent thereto even when the cap 15 shown in FIG. 7 is held open by the advancing and retracting means. . Further, the loosening member 15a is formed so as to have elasticity. In this case, the loosening member 15a itself can be formed of plastic having elasticity, but when it is made of plastic having rigidity to some extent, its thickness is reduced. Elasticity can be given to the loosening member 15a by selecting suitably.
[0032]
In the toner bottle 14 configured as described above, the cap 15 and the toner bottle 14 fixed and held at the opening position by the advancing / retreating movement unit are in a relative relationship, and when the toner bottle 14 is rotated in the opened state, The same effect as the case where the loosening member 15a is rotated with respect to the toner bottle 14 whose position is fixed is obtained. The toner at the toner discharge port 14d and the color portion 14f is loosened by the loosening member 15a and discharged from the toner discharge port 14d. The By this loosening action, toner blocking at the toner discharge port 14d and the color portion 14f is surely prevented, and a toner having poor physical properties can be used without any trouble.
[0033]
Next, the operation at the time of toner supply will be described. In toner replenishment, when a toner sensor (not shown) provided in the process cartridge 40 detects that there is no toner, the drive unit 13 shown in FIGS. 2 and 5 operates to rotate the joint 13c in the B direction. Then, the joint 13c is fitted into the protrusion 14a at the bottom of the bottle, and the toner bottle 14 rotates. When the toner bottle 14 rotates, as shown by an arrow L in FIG. 1, the toner is discharged from the toner discharge port 14d and collected in the case 18a. At the same time, the rotation of the toner bottle 14 is transmitted to the holding member 16 through the driving rib 16b integrated with the bottle holding member 16, and the toner replenishing blade 17 slides and rotates on the inner wall surface of the case 18a. As shown by the arrow M in the figure, the toner accumulated in the case 18a is scraped up. When the toner replenishing blade 17 passes through the slit hole 19a of the elastic member 19, as indicated by an arrow N, toner is pushed out from the slit hole 19a. At this time, when the toner supply blade 17 is protruded from the slit hole 19a, the toner accumulated near the end of the slit hole 19a and the end of the opening 18c is pushed out. The pushed toner falls in the cover 29, passes through the opening 29a on the lower side of the cover 29, and enters the process cartridge 40 from the toner introduction part 12 of the process cartridge 40 as shown by an arrow P in FIG. Is replenished.
[0034]
That is, only when the toner bottle 14 is rotating, the toner is pushed out from the elastic member 19 to the toner introducing portion 12 to be replenished into the process cartridge 40 and the toner concentration is kept constant.
[0035]
Next, the characteristic part of this embodiment is demonstrated.
In the toner replenishing device according to the present embodiment, as described above, when a toner sensor (not shown) detects that there is no toner, the motor 13e of the rotation driving unit 13 is driven as shown in FIG. The toner is supplied to the developing device. When the toner sensor detects the presence of toner, the forward rotation driving of the toner bottle 14 is stopped, and the toner bottle 14 is rotated in the reverse direction in the F direction. When the toner bottle 14 rotates in the reverse direction, the engagement between the driving transmission projection 14c and the driving rib 16b provided on the inner wall surface of the bottle holding member 16 is released, and the bottle holding member 16 is stopped and only the toner bottle 14 is stopped. Rotates in reverse.
[0036]
When the toner bottle 14 rotates in the reverse direction, the toner in the toner bottle 14 is conveyed to the back side of the toner bottle 14 by a spiral groove 14e formed on the inner wall of the toner bottle 14 as shown in FIG.
Further, as shown in FIG. 7, two loosening members 15 a for loosening the toner in the vicinity of the color portion 14 f of the toner bottle 14 in the opened state are provided on the opposite surface of the cap 15. The loosening member 15a is made of an elastic member as described above, and the tip portion is not fixed. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 8, when the toner bottle 14 is rotated in the reverse direction, the toner is inclined toward the back due to the resistance of the toner near the toner discharge port 14d and the color portion 14f. Yes. In particular, since there is no spiral groove in the cap fitting portion (the inner peripheral portion of the collar portion 14f), when a cap without the loosening member 15a is used, the toner in the cap fitting portion is not conveyed to the back side even by a reverse rotation operation. However, in the configuration of the present embodiment, the toner can be conveyed to the back side by the deflection of the loosening member 15a.
[0037]
As a result, the toner in the vicinity of the toner discharge port 14d and the color portion 14f of the toner bottle 14 is sent to the back of the bottle, so that when the cap 15 is closed, the toner becomes a resistance and is reliably closed without causing a sealing failure. This prevents the cap 15 from coming off and spillage of the toner remaining between the cap 15 and the toner bottle 14, thus providing a toner replenishing device with excellent operability.
[0038]
When the toner bottle 14 is rotated in the reverse direction by a predetermined amount or more, the drive transmission projection 14c and the drive rib 16b are engaged again, and the bottle holding member 16 is integrated with the toner bottle 14 in the F direction. Will rotate. However, as shown in FIG. 1, when the bottle holding member 16 rotates forward (arrow M), the toner supply blade 17 slides and rotates on the inner wall surface of the case 18a to push out the toner. Accordingly, when the bottle holding member 16 rotates in the reverse direction and the toner supply blade 17 rotates in reverse, the toner supply blade 17 turns up or is pushed out from the opening 18c and damaged in the worst case. There is a risk of malfunction.
[0039]
In view of this, the toner replenishing device according to the present embodiment has a configuration in which the driving protrusion 14c and the driving rib 16b are provided in one place. Further, the rotation amount of the drive motor 13e of the rotation driving means 13 is controlled so that the rotation amount of the toner bottle 14 is less than one rotation.
Thus, even after the toner supply is completed, even if the motor 13e is rotated in the reverse direction, only the toner bottle 14 rotates in the reverse direction and stops before the drive is transmitted to the bottle holding member 16. Therefore, the bottle holding member 16 is not rotated in the reverse direction, and damage to the toner supply blade 17 can be prevented.
[0040]
As described above, the reverse rotation operation of the toner bottle 14 is performed every time after the forward rotation operation of the toner bottle 14, but it is controlled to be performed at the end of a series of copy operations (jobs) in which continuous copying ends. You can also.
As a result, the toner bottle 14 is not rotated in the middle of continuous copying, which may consume a large amount of toner, compared with the case where the reverse rotation operation is performed every time after the forward rotation operation of the toner bottle 14 is completed. Since toner in the vicinity of 14d is not conveyed in the back, toner replenishment is performed immediately after the start of rotation even when the toner bottle 14 stopped once in the middle of continuous copying is performed again. I will not let you.
[0041]
[Embodiment 2]
In the first embodiment, the driving protrusion 14c is provided at one location on the circumference of the head of the toner bottle 14, and the motor 13e is configured so that the amount of reverse rotation of the toner bottle 14 is less than one rotation. The configuration in which the amount of rotation is controlled and the bottle holding member 16 is not rotated reversely has been described. However, the bottle holding member 16 may be configured not to rotate reversely by providing a one-way clutch in the drive receiving portion of the bottle holding member 16. it can. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the vicinity of the bottle holding member 16 according to the present embodiment before assembly. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same member as the said Embodiment 1. FIG.
[0042]
As shown in FIG. 9, for example, a one-way clutch 100 having a ratchet mechanism having a ratchet wheel and a detent is disposed inside the bottle holding member 16. The one-way clutch 100 is provided with an engaging portion 100 a that can be engaged with the drive transmission protrusion 14 c of the toner bottle 14.
[0043]
When the toner bottle 14 rotates in the forward rotation direction, the drive transmission projection 14c and the engagement portion 100a engage with each other, and the detent stops rotate the ratchet wheel to transmit the driving force to the bottle holding member 16. The bottle holding member 16 is rotated in the normal rotation direction. On the contrary, when the toner bottle 14 rotates in the reverse direction, even if the driving transmission projection 14c and the engaging portion 100a are engaged, the detent is rotated without rotating the pawl wheel. The rotational driving force is not transmitted to the bottle holding member 16.
Thus, even if the toner bottle 14 rotates in the reverse direction, the bottle holding member 16 does not rotate in the reverse direction, and the toner replenishment blade 17 disposed on the rib 16a of the bottle holding member 16 does not rotate in the reverse direction. Problems due to reverse rotation such as breakage of the replenishment blade 17 are prevented.
[0044]
With such a configuration, the amount of reverse rotation of the toner bottle 14 is not limited to be less than one rotation as in the first embodiment, and the time for reverse rotation is sufficiently long. Since the toner at the toner discharge port 14d (opening) can be sufficiently conveyed to the back side, the cap 15 can be closed more reliably.
[0045]
【The invention's effect】
  In the first to sixth aspects of the invention, the toner in the opening can be sent to the back side of the toner container by the toner feeding means. As a result, it is possible to provide a toner replenishing device having excellent operability by ensuring that the cap of the toner container is closed, there is no defective cap closing, and toner spillage is reduced.The
Further, the rotational driving force transmitting means transmits a rotational driving force in which the toner container performs a toner replenishing operation, and does not transmit a rotational driving force in a direction opposite to the rotational direction. Thereby, since the rotational driving force in the reverse direction is not transmitted to the container holding means, it is possible to prevent the trouble caused by the reverse rotation of the toner conveying means provided in the container housing means. is there.
[0046]
  In particular, in the second aspect of the invention, when the toner container rotates in the reverse direction, the toner feeding member rotates relative to the opening, and the toner near the opening is removed. The toner can be sent to the inner side of the container. Thus, there is an excellent effect that the toner near the opening can be reduced and the cap can be prevented from being incompletely closed due to the resistance of the toner.
[0047]
  In particular, in the third aspect of the invention, the reverse rotation operation of the toner container is performed at the end of a series of image forming operations so that the toner is always present near the opening during the image forming operation, and the toner needs to be replenished. At times, make sure that you can replenish without any time difference. Accordingly, there is an excellent effect that the closing operation can be surely performed and a decrease in follow-up performance of toner replenishment can be prevented.
[0049]
  In particular, the claims4In this invention, since the rotation amount of the toner container rotating backward is less than one rotation, the engagement between the convex shape and the engaging portion is released by the reverse rotation of the toner container. Thereafter, the convex shape and the engaging portion are not engaged again in the reverse rotation direction. Accordingly, the rotational driving force in the reverse direction of the toner container is not transmitted to the container holding means. Thereby, there exists the outstanding effect that the said malfunction by reverse rotation can be prevented.
[0050]
  In particular, the claims5In this invention, since the one-way clutch mechanism is provided in the rotational driving force transmitting means, even if the toner container is rotated in the reverse direction, the drive of the toner container is not transmitted to the container holding means side, and the reverse rotation is caused. The above problems can be prevented. Further, since the reverse rotation time can be arbitrarily set, there is an excellent effect that the toner near the opening can be sufficiently transported to the back side of the toner container and the plugging operation can be made more reliable.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an overall schematic configuration diagram of an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment according to the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of each component of a toner replenishing device showing an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3A is a top view of a toner container. (B) is the same side view. (C) is the back view.
FIG. 4 is a sectional view showing an exploded state in the vicinity of the bottle holding member.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cradle is pulled out from the guide plate.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which the toner container is attached to the toner supply device.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a state in which toner in a toner container is discharged into a container holding unit.
FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating that when the toner container is rotated in the reverse direction, the loosening member sends the deflection toner to the back side of the container.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which a one-way clutch mechanism is provided in the engaging portion.
[Explanation of symbols]
12 Toner introduction part
13 Rotation drive means
13c engagement part
14 Toner bottle
14a, 14b Convex shape
14c Drive transmission projection
14d Toner outlet
14f Color section
16 Bottle holding member
16b Driving rib
17 Toner supply blade
18a Case as container holding means
100 one-way clutch
100a Engagement part

Claims (6)

A toner storage container that applies a conveying action to the stored toner in one direction by a rotation operation; a cap for closing an opening formed at one end of the container main body of the toner storage container;
Container holding means for holding the toner container in a state where toner can be introduced from the opening into the toner introduction portion of the developing device;
A toner replenishing device having rotation driving means for rotating the toner storage container held by the container holding means about a central axis;
Toner feeding means for feeding the toner in the opening to the back side of the toner container ;
A rotational driving force transmitting means for transmitting the rotational driving force of the toner container to the container holding means;
Toner conveying means for introducing the toner into the toner introducing portion of the developing device using the rotational driving force transmitted by the rotational driving force transmitting means;
The rotational driving force transmitting means, the toner supply device, characterized in that the toner container is transmitted only rotational drive force in the rotational direction to perform toner supply operation, the rotational driving force of the rotation direction and the opposite direction is not transmitted . The toner replenishing device according to claim 1.
A toner feed member for sending the toner in the opening to the back side of the toner container in the opened state of the cap;
When the toner container does not perform a toner replenishment operation on the developing device, the rotation driving unit is controlled to rotate the toner container in a direction opposite to a rotation direction in which the toner replenishment operation is performed. Control means,
A toner replenishing device, wherein the toner feeding member rotates relative to the opening to feed the toner in the opening to the back side of the toner container. The toner replenishing device according to claim 2.
A toner replenishing device that controls the control means to perform an operation of rotating the toner container in a direction opposite to a rotation direction in which the toner replenishing operation is performed at the end of a series of image forming operations . 請 Motomeko 2 or, in the toner replenishing apparatus 3,
The rotational driving force transmitting means includes a convex shape provided on an end wall surface on one end side where the opening of the toner storage container is formed, and the container for engaging the convex shape to transmit driving. Each provided with one engaging portion provided in the holding means,
A toner replenishing device, wherein the rotation driving means is controlled so that a rotation amount for rotating the toner container in the reverse direction is less than one rotation. The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, 2, or 3 ,
The toner replenishing device, wherein the rotational driving force transmission means has a one-way clutch mechanism.   An image forming apparatus including a toner replenishing device,
An image forming apparatus using the toner replenishing device according to claim 1.

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