JP2007212766A - Toner supply device, toner supply box, and relay box - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner supply device in which toner near the opening of a toner supply box and toner near the opening of a relay box are prevented from scattering. <P>SOLUTION: When the toner supply box 21a is attached to the relay box 22, the engagement part 41a of the opening/closing lid 41 of the toner supply box 21a engages with the projection 22b of the relay box 22 and opens, and the opening/closing lid 25 of the relay box 22 engages with the projection 21f of the toner supply box 21a and opens, and the opening 21e of the toner supply box 21a consequently communicates with the opening 22a of the relay box 22, so that toner can be supplied from the toner supply box 21a to the relay box 22. When the toner supply box 21a is detached, the opening/closing lid 41 of the toner supply box 21a is closed by the elastic force of a coil spring 26, and the opening/closing lid 25 of the relay box 22 is closed by the elastic force of a coil spring 42. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner supply device, a toner supply box, and a relay box used in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.

  This type of image forming apparatus is provided as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine or the like. In this apparatus, an electrostatic latent image is formed on a photosensitive member, the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive member is developed with toner, a toner image is formed on the photosensitive member, and the toner image is transferred from the photosensitive member to a recording sheet. Transfer and heat and pressurize the recording paper to fix the toner image on the recording paper.

  In recent years, such image forming apparatuses have been increased in speed, and the number of sheets to be printed per unit time has increased, and the sheet conveyance speed has increased. For example, previously, the number of printed sheets of 60 sheets / minute or more was called a high-speed machine, but in recent years it is not called a high-speed machine unless it is 80 sheets / minute or more, and more than 100 sheets / minute. Development is in progress.

  In such a high-speed image forming apparatus, the toner consumption is fast and the consumption amount is large. For this reason, a plurality of toner replenishment boxes are arranged in parallel to increase the toner storage amount. Also, instead of supplying toner directly from each toner supply box to the developing device, toner is supplied from each toner supply box to the relay box, and the toner is temporarily stored in the relay box and developed from the relay box. Toner is being supplied to the device. Thereby, even if the toner replenishment box becomes empty, toner replenishment to the developing device is not immediately interrupted, and the toner density in the developing device is stabilized.

On the other hand, the toner supply box is provided with an opening for supplying toner to the outside. In general, the opening is sealed with a seal member, and when the toner replenishment box is mounted and used, the seal member is removed, the opening of the toner replenishment box is opened, and the toner from the opening is removed. Replenishment is enabled (see Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-220777

  Incidentally, as described above, when a plurality of toner supply boxes are arranged in parallel and a relay box is provided, the toner supply boxes can be replaced while the image forming apparatus is in operation.

  However, during the operation of the image forming apparatus, since the components and the like in the apparatus are operating, an air flow is generated in the apparatus. Further, after the conventional seal member is removed from the opening of the toner supply box, the opening of the toner supply box remains open. For this reason, when the toner replenishment box is replaced, the toner near the opening of the toner replenishment box is scattered due to the air flow in the apparatus, and the inside of the apparatus is contaminated.

  Further, when the toner replenishment box is removed, the opening of the relay box remains open, so that the toner near the opening of the relay box is scattered and the inside of the apparatus is contaminated.

  Therefore, the present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional problems, and when replacing the toner replenishment box, toner near the opening of the toner replenishment box and toner near the opening of the relay box are not scattered. It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner supply device, a toner supply box, and a relay box.

  In order to solve the above-described problems, a toner replenishing device according to the present invention includes a toner replenishing box that can be attached and detached, and temporarily stores toner supplied from the toner replenishing box, and supplies the toner to the developing device. In the toner replenishing device comprising a relay box, an opening / closing lid is provided at an opening of the toner replenishing box for sending toner to the relay box, and the opening of the relay box for receiving toner from the toner replenishing box When the toner replenishment box is mounted, the open / close lid of the toner replenishment box and the open / close lid of the relay box are engaged with each other to open the opening of the toner replenishment box. And the opening of the relay box communicate with each other.

  According to such a toner replenishing device of the present invention, in the initial state, the open / close lid of the toner replenishment box and the open / close lid of the relay box are closed. The lid engages with and opens the other side of the box, and the opening of the toner supply box communicates with the opening of the relay box, so that toner can be supplied from the toner supply box to the relay box. Therefore, until the toner replenishment box is installed in the relay box, the open / close lid of the toner replenishment box and the open / close lid of the relay box remain closed, and the toner near the opening of the toner replenishment box and the vicinity of the opening of the relay box The toner will not scatter.

  In addition, the toner replenishment box includes a transport driving unit for transporting the toner in the toner replenishment box to the opening of the toner replenishment box.

  As a result, most of the toner in the toner supply box is conveyed to the opening of the toner supply box and supplied to the relay box.

  Further, the toner replenishment box is provided with detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of toner in the toner replenishment box.

  Accordingly, it is possible to accurately notify the replacement timing of the toner replenishment box, and to prevent interruption of toner replenishment.

  The toner replenishment box includes a partition plate supported movably in the toner replenishment box, and transport driving means for transporting the toner to the opening of the toner replenishment box by moving the partition plate. And detecting means for detecting the moving position of the partition plate and detecting the remaining amount of toner based on the moving position of the partition plate.

  Thus, most of the toner in the toner replenishment box is supplied to the relay box, and it can be reliably detected that the remaining amount of toner has decreased just before the toner supply is completed.

  Further, when the toner supply box is removed, the engagement of the opening / closing lid of the toner supply box and the opening / closing lid of the relay box is released, and these opening / closing lids are closed.

  When the toner replenishment box is removed in this way, the open / close lid of the toner replenishment box and the open / close lid of the relay box are closed, so that the toner near the opening of the toner replenishment box and the toner near the opening of the relay box are scattered. There is no. For this reason, even if the toner replenishment box is replaced while the image forming apparatus is in operation and air flows in the apparatus, the toner does not scatter and the apparatus is not contaminated. .

  Next, the toner replenishment box according to the present invention includes an open / close lid provided at an opening for sending the toner to the outside in the toner replenishment box containing toner, and an urging means for urging the open / close lid toward the closing side. The opening / closing lid has an engagement portion where a force in a direction such that the opening / closing lid opens against the urging force of the urging means can be applied.

  According to such a toner replenishment box of the present invention, in an initial state, the opening / closing lid of the toner replenishment box is closed by the urging means, and the force in such a direction that the opening / closing lid is opened at the engagement portion of the opening / closing lid. When is operated, the opening / closing lid opens against the urging force of the urging means.

  Next, the relay box of the present invention is a relay box for temporarily storing toner, and an opening / closing lid provided at an opening for receiving toner from the outside, and an urging force for biasing the opening / closing lid toward the closing side. And the opening / closing lid has an engagement portion where a force in a direction such that the opening / closing lid opens against the urging force of the urging means can be applied.

  According to such a relay box of the present invention, in the initial state, the opening / closing lid of the relay box is closed by the biasing means, and a force in such a direction as to open the opening / closing lid acts on the engagement portion of the opening / closing lid. Then, the opening / closing lid opens against the urging force of the urging means.

  When the toner replenishment box of the present invention is mounted on the relay box of the present invention, the engagement parts of both the opening and closing lids are respectively engaged with the parts of the counterpart box, and these opening and closing lids are opened. If the opening of the toner supply box and the opening of the relay box communicate with each other, toner can be supplied from the toner supply box to the relay box.

  Further, when the toner replenishment box is removed, the engagement portions of both the opening and closing lids are disengaged, so that the opening and closing lids of the boxes are urged and closed by the urging means of the toner supply box, and the relay box The opening / closing lid of the box is biased and closed by the biasing means. For this reason, even if the toner replenishment box is replaced while the image forming apparatus is in operation and air flows in the apparatus, the toner does not scatter and the apparatus is not contaminated. .

  Thus, in the present invention, when the toner replenishment box is attached to the relay box, both the opening and closing lids are respectively engaged and opened with the other side of the box, and the opening of the toner replenishment box and the relay box are opened. Thus, the toner can be supplied from the toner supply box to the relay box. Further, when the toner replenishment box is removed, the open / close lid of the toner replenishment box and the open / close lid of the relay box are closed, so that the toner does not scatter even when air flows in the image forming apparatus. The inside of the apparatus is not contaminated.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a side view showing a configuration of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of a toner replenishing device of the present invention is applied. The image forming apparatus A records and forms an image of a document read by the document reading device B or an image received from the outside on a recording sheet in color or single color, and includes an exposure unit 1, a developing device 2, and a photosensitive drum. 3, a charger 5, a cleaner unit 4, an intermediate transfer belt unit 8, a fixing device 12, a paper transport path S, a paper feed tray 10, a paper discharge tray 15, and a plurality of toner supply boxes 21.

  The image data handled in the image forming apparatus A is data corresponding to a color image using each color of black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), or a single color (for example, black). This corresponds to the monochrome image used. Accordingly, the developing device 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d), the photosensitive drum 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d), the charger 5 (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d), the cleaner unit 4 (4a, 4b, 4c and 4d) are provided in order to form four types of latent images corresponding to the respective colors, a corresponding to black, b corresponding to cyan, c corresponding to magenta, and d corresponding to yellow. One image station is configured.

  The photosensitive drum 3 is disposed (attached) at substantially the center of the image forming apparatus A.

  The charger 5 is a charging means for uniformly charging the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 to a predetermined potential. In addition to the contact type roller type and brush type chargers, the charger type charging shown in FIG. A vessel is used.

  The exposure unit 1 uses, for example, an EL in which light emitting elements are arranged in an array, an LED writing head, or a laser scanning unit (LSU) including a laser irradiation unit and a reflection mirror. The charged photosensitive drum 3 has a function of forming an electrostatic latent image corresponding to the image data on the surface thereof by exposing the photosensitive drum 3 according to the input image data.

  The developing device 2 visualizes the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 3 with (K, C, M, Y) toner. The developing device 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) has a developer tank that stores toner replenished from the toner replenishment box 21 (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d). The toner is agitated and charged, and the charged toner is electrostatically attracted to the electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 3 to visualize the electrostatic latent image.

  The two toner supply boxes 21a contain black (K) toner, and supply the black (K) toner to the developing device 2a through the relay box 22 and a path (not shown). The other toner supply boxes 21b, 21c, and 21d contain cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) toner, and each color toner is supplied to the developing device 2b through respective paths (not shown). 2c and 2d.

  Two toner supply boxes because monochrome images (images such as text) are much more printed than color images and black (K) toner is consumed more than other colors of toner 21a is arranged in parallel to increase the amount of black (K) toner. In addition, the photosensitive drum 3a and the developing device 2a for forming a black image are larger than the photosensitive drum and the developing device for forming an image of another color, and the black image printing speed and the parts Durability is improved.

  The cleaner unit 4 removes and collects toner remaining on the surface of the photosensitive drum 3 after development and image transfer.

  The intermediate transfer belt unit 8 disposed above the photosensitive drum 3 includes an intermediate transfer belt 7, an intermediate transfer belt driving roller 71, an intermediate transfer belt tension roller 73, an intermediate transfer belt driven roller 72, and an intermediate transfer roller 6 (6a). 6b, 6c, 6d), and an intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9.

  The intermediate transfer belt drive roller 71, the intermediate transfer belt tension roller 73, the intermediate transfer roller 6, the intermediate transfer belt driven roller 72, and the like stretch and support the intermediate transfer belt 7, and the intermediate transfer belt 7 in the direction of arrow D. It is intended to rotate.

  The intermediate transfer roller 6 is rotatably supported in the vicinity of the intermediate transfer belt 7 and provides a transfer bias for transferring the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 to the intermediate transfer belt 7.

  The intermediate transfer belt 7 is provided so as to come into contact with the respective photosensitive drums 3, and the toner images of the respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums 3 are sequentially transferred onto the intermediate transfer belt 7. Thus, a color toner image (multicolor toner image) is formed. This transfer belt is formed endlessly using a film having a thickness of about 100 μm to 150 μm.

  Transfer of the toner image from the photosensitive drum 3 to the sheet (recording paper) is performed by the intermediate transfer roller 6 in contact with the back side of the intermediate transfer belt 7. A high voltage transfer bias (a high voltage having a polarity (+) opposite to the toner charging polarity (−)) is applied to the intermediate transfer roller 6 in order to transfer the toner image. The intermediate transfer roller 6 is a roller whose base is a metal (for example, stainless steel) shaft having a diameter of 8 to 10 mm and whose surface is covered with a conductive elastic material (for example, EPDM, urethane foam, or the like). With this conductive elastic material, a high voltage can be uniformly applied to the recording paper. In the image forming apparatus A, the intermediate transfer roller 6 is used as a transfer electrode, but a brush or the like is also used.

  As described above, the toner images visualized by the toners of the respective colors on the respective photosensitive drums 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) are stacked on the intermediate transfer belt 7 and received from the outside, or an image reading apparatus. It represents the image of the original read by B. The toner images of the respective colors stacked in this way are transferred onto the sheet by the secondary transfer unit 11 disposed at a contact position between the recording sheet and the intermediate transfer belt 7 described later by the rotation of the intermediate transfer belt 7.

  The intermediate transfer belt 7 and the transfer belt 11a of the secondary transfer unit 11 are pressed against each other to form a nip region. Further, the transfer belt 11a of the secondary transfer unit 11 has a voltage (high polarity (+) opposite to the toner charge polarity (-)) for transferring the toner image of each color on the intermediate transfer belt 7 onto the recording paper. Voltage) is applied. Further, in order to constantly obtain the nip region, either the roller of the secondary transfer unit 11 or the intermediate transfer belt drive roller 71 is made of a hard material (metal or the like), and the other is made of a soft material (elasticity such as an elastic roller). Rubber roller, foaming resin roller, etc.).

  In addition, the toner image of each color on the intermediate transfer belt 7 may not be completely transferred onto the recording paper by the secondary transfer unit 11, and the toner may remain on the intermediate transfer belt 7. This may cause toner color mixing. For this reason, the residual toner is removed and collected by the intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9. The intermediate transfer belt cleaning unit 9 includes, for example, a cleaning blade that contacts the intermediate transfer belt 7 as a cleaning member, and the intermediate transfer belt 7 is moved by the intermediate transfer belt driven roller 72 at a portion where the cleaning blade contacts. 7 is supported from the back side.

  The paper feed tray 10 is a tray for storing recording paper, and is provided below the image forming unit of the image forming apparatus A. The paper discharge tray 15 provided on the upper side of the image forming unit is a tray for placing printed recording paper face down.

  Further, the image forming apparatus A is provided with an S-shaped sheet conveyance path S for sending the recording sheet in the sheet feeding tray 10 to the sheet discharge tray 15 via the secondary transfer unit 11 and the fixing device 12. It has been. Further, in the vicinity of the paper transport path S from the paper feed tray 10 to the paper discharge tray 15, a pickup roller 16, a registration roller 14, a fixing device 12, a transport direction switching guide 34, and a transport roller for transporting recording paper (FIG. Etc.) are arranged.

  The transport rollers are small rollers for promoting and assisting the transport of the recording paper, and a plurality of transport rollers are provided along the paper transport path S. The pickup roller 16 is a call-in roller that is provided at the end of the paper feed tray 10 and supplies recording paper from the paper feed tray 10 to the paper transport path S one by one.

  The conveyance direction switching guide 34 is rotatably provided on the side cover, and separates the recording paper from the middle of the conveyance path S by changing the state indicated by the solid line to the state indicated by the broken line. At this time, the recording sheet passes through the conveyance unit S ′ formed between the fixing device 12, the side cover, and the conveyance switching guide 34, and is returned to the sheet conveyance path S after being turned upside down.

  Further, the registration roller 14 temporarily stops the recording paper that has been conveyed and aligns the leading ends of the recording paper. The recording sheet is transported in a timely manner in accordance with the rotation of the photosensitive drum 3 so that the toner image on the photosensitive drum 3 can be satisfactorily multiplex-transferred onto the recording sheet.

  For example, the registration roller 14 moves the tip of the toner image on each of the photosensitive drums 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) within the image forming range on the recording sheet based on a detection signal output from a pre-registration detection switch (not shown). The recording paper is set to be conveyed so as to be aligned with the leading edge.

  The fixing device 12 includes a heating roller 31, a pressure roller 32, and the like. The heating roller 31 and the pressure roller 32 are configured to rotate with the recording paper interposed therebetween.

  The heating roller 31 is controlled by the control unit so as to reach a predetermined fixing temperature based on a signal from a temperature detector (not shown). The multicolor toner image transferred to the recording medium is melted, mixed, and pressed, and thermally fixed to the recording paper.

  The recording paper after the fixing of the multicolor toner image is conveyed to the reverse paper discharge path of the paper conveyance path S by the conveyance roller, and discharged in a reversed state (with the multicolor toner image facing downward). The paper is discharged onto the tray 15.

  2 to 4 show an embodiment of the toner replenishing device of the present invention. 2 is a perspective view showing the toner replenishing device as seen from the front, FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the toner replenishing device as seen from the rear, and FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the toner replenishing device as seen from the rear. .

  In the toner replenishing device of this embodiment, the relay box 22 and the three guide rails 23 are fixedly supported inside the image forming apparatus A, and the two substantially cylindrical toner replenishing boxes 21 a are interposed between the three guide rails 23. The opening on the lower side of each toner supply box 21 a is positioned so as to overlap the two openings on the upper side of the relay box 22, and the opening on each toner supply box 21 a and the two openings on the relay box 22 are positioned. Are connected to each other so that toner can be supplied from each toner supply box 21a to the relay box 22.

  The relay box 22 receives the toner from each toner supply box 21a and temporarily stores it, and supplies the toner from the opening below the relay box 22 to the developing device 2a through a path (not shown). Three agitating members 24 are rotatably supported on the relay box 22, and each agitating member 24 is driven to rotate as described later, and the toner in the relay box 22 is agitated by each agitating member 24. At the same time, the toner is sent out from the opening below the relay box 22.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the toner supply box 21a and the relay box 22 as viewed from the side.

  In FIG. 5, the shaft 24 a of each stirring member 24 of the relay box 22 passes through the side wall of the relay box 22 and is connected and fixed to each rotation drive shaft (not shown) on the image forming apparatus A side. The shafts 24a of the stirring members 24 are driven to rotate by the rotational drive shafts on the image forming apparatus A side, so that the stirring members 24 are rotationally driven, and the toner in the relay box 22 is stirred by the stirring members 24.

  An opening 22a is formed above the relay box 22, and an opening / closing lid 25 is provided in the opening 22a. For example, respective guide grooves (not shown) are provided at both edges of the opening 22a, and both sides of the opening / closing lid 25 are slidably supported by these guide grooves, so that the opening / closing lid 25 is supported to be opened and closed. . At the left end of the opening / closing lid 25, an engaging portion 25a protruding upward is provided.

  In addition, a coil spring 26 is disposed in the vicinity of the opening 22a, and one end of the coil spring 26 is fixedly supported on the inner wall of the relay box 22. The coil spring 26 urges the opening / closing lid 25 leftward. Thereby, the opening / closing lid 25 is moved leftward and closed.

  On the other hand, the toner supply box 21 a is in an initial state where it is not connected to the relay box 22. An opening 21e is formed below the rear end of the toner supply box 21a, and an opening / closing lid 41 is provided in the opening 21e. For example, respective guide grooves (not shown) are provided at both edges of the opening 21e, and both sides of the opening / closing lid 41 are slidably supported by these guide grooves, so that the opening / closing lid 41 is supported openably / closably. . At the right end of the opening / closing lid 41, an engaging portion 41a protruding downward is provided.

  A coil spring 42 is disposed in the vicinity of the opening 21e, and one end of the coil spring 42 is fixedly supported on the inner wall of the toner supply box 21a. The coil spring 42 urges the opening / closing lid 41 to the right. Thereby, the opening / closing lid 41 is moved rightward and closed.

  Further, a screw shaft 43 is rotatably supported in the toner supply box 21a, and the screw shaft 43 is screwed into a central hole of the partition plate 44. The partition plate 44 has an outer shape that comes into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the toner supply box 21a. The partition plate 44 is slidably contacted with the inner peripheral surface of the toner supply box 21a in the direction of arrow E in a state where rotation around the screw shaft 43 is prohibited. It is possible to move.

  The left end of the screw shaft 43 is inserted into the hole of the lid 21f of the toner supply box 21a and is rotatably supported. The right end of the screw shaft 43 passes through a hole in the bottom 21g of the toner supply box 21a and is rotatably supported. The screw shaft 43 is connected and fixed to the connecting member 45 outside the toner supply box 21a.

  The connecting member 45 has a substantially disk shape, and is rotatably fitted in a circular recess 21h formed in the bottom 21g of the toner supply box 21a. The connecting member 45 has a pair of connecting protrusions 45a. When the toner supply box 21a is mounted inside the image forming apparatus A, each connecting protrusion 45a is driven to rotate on the image forming apparatus A side. The coupling member 45 is rotationally driven by the rotation driving member, and the screw shaft 43 is also rotationally driven together with the coupling member 45.

  A partition plate sensor 46 is provided above the opening 21e. When the partition plate 44 moves to the vicinity of the opening 21e, the partition plate sensor 46 comes into contact with the partition plate 44 and turns on. Therefore, based on the detection output of the partition plate sensor 46, it can be seen that the partition plate 44 has moved to the vicinity of the opening 21e.

  Next, a procedure for mounting the toner replenishment box 21a will be described with reference to FIG. 2, FIG. 3, FIG. 5, FIG. 6, FIG.

  First, the toner supply box 21a is placed between the guide rails 23, and the toner supply box 21a is slid on the guide rails 23 in the direction of arrow E as shown in FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 6, a protrusion 22b is provided on one edge of the opening 22a of the relay box 22, and when the rear end of the toner supply box 21a approaches the relay box 22, the toner supply box 21a The engaging portion 41a of the opening / closing lid 41 contacts the projection 22b on the relay box 22 side. Therefore, even when the toner supply box 21 a moves in the direction of arrow E, only the opening / closing lid 41 does not move, and the opening / closing lid 41 is opened against the elastic force of the coil spring 42.

  A protrusion 21i is also provided at one edge of the opening 21e of the toner replenishment box 21a, and the engaging portion 25a of the opening / closing lid 25 of the relay box 22 contacts the protrusion 21i on the toner replenishment box 21a side. As the supply box 21 a moves in the direction of arrow E, the opening / closing lid 25 of the relay box 22 is pushed in the direction of arrow E, and the opening / closing lid 25 is opened against the elastic force of the coil spring 26.

  As shown in FIG. 7, when the rear end of the toner supply box 21a has moved to the upper side of the relay box 22, the open / close lid 41 of the toner supply box 21a is completely opened and the open / close cover 25 of the relay box 22 is opened. Also, the opening 21e of the toner replenishing box 21a and the opening 22a of the relay box 22 communicate with each other so that toner can be supplied from the toner replenishing box 21a to the relay box 22.

  At the same time, as shown in FIG. 3, an engagement spring 47 provided on the guide rail 23 side is fitted into a recess (not shown) on the side of the toner supply box 21a, so that the toner supply box 21a is positioned and fixed. .

  The toner replenishment box 21a is attached to the image forming apparatus A by the above procedure.

  When the toner replenishment box 21a is mounted in this manner, each connection convex portion 45a of the connection member 45 of the toner replenishment box 21a is fitted to the rotation driving member on the image forming apparatus A side, and the rotation driving member causes the connection member 45 to move. When driven to rotate, the screw shaft 43 is also driven to rotate. At this time, the partition plate 44 moves in the direction of arrow E because the screw shaft 43 screwed in the center rotates while the rotation around the screw shaft 43 is prohibited. Press to transport.

  When the remaining amount of toner in the relay box 22 decreases, the connecting member 45 of the toner supply box 21a is rotated by a fixed angle, the screw shaft 43 of the toner supply box 21a is also rotated by a fixed angle, and the partition plate 44 is fixed. Moved by distance. Then, the toner is pushed to the opening 21e side by a predetermined distance by the partition plate 44, and the toner is sent out from the opening 21e of the toner supply box 21a to the relay box 22 and supplied.

  Such replenishment of toner by the movement of the partition plate 44 is repeated every time the remaining amount of toner in the relay box 22 decreases. When the partition plate 44 moves to the vicinity of the opening 21e, the partition plate sensor 46 comes into contact with the partition plate 44 and is turned on.

  In the image forming apparatus A, when the partition plate sensor 46 is turned on, since the partition plate 44 has moved to the vicinity of the opening 21e, it is considered that the remaining amount of toner in the toner supply box 21a has decreased, and the toner supply box. A message prompting replacement of 21a is displayed.

  In view of such a display, the user first removes from the image forming apparatus A the toner replenishment box 21a in which the remaining amount of toner has decreased in order to replace the toner replenishment box 21a. The removal of the toner replenishment box 21a is performed in the reverse procedure to that in the mounting, that is, the procedure shown in FIGS. At this time, the toner supply box 21a is pulled on each guide rail 23 in the direction opposite to the arrow E, and the engagement spring 47 on the guide rail 23 side shown in FIG. 3 is released from the recess on the side of the toner supply box 21a. The toner supply box 21a is moved in the direction opposite to the arrow E. Since the opening / closing lid 41 of the toner supply box 21a is biased toward the closing side by the elastic force of the coil spring 42, the engaging portion 41a of the opening / closing lid 41 remains in contact with the protrusion 22b on the relay box 22 side. When the opening / closing lid 41 is closed and the removal of the toner supply box 21a is completed, the opening / closing lid 41 is completely closed. At the same time, the opening / closing lid 25 of the relay box 22 is urged toward the closing side by the elastic force of the coil spring 26, so that the engaging portion 25a of the opening / closing lid 25 remains in contact with the protrusion 21i on the toner supply box 21 side. When the opening / closing lid 25 is closed and the removal of the toner supply box 21a is completed, the opening / closing lid 25 is completely closed. For this reason, even when the image forming apparatus A is in operation and there is an air flow in the apparatus, the toner near the opening 21e of the toner supply box 21a and the toner near the opening 22a of the relay box 22 are air. It will not be scattered by being exposed to the flow of air, and the inside of the apparatus will not be contaminated.

  Thereafter, as described above, a new toner replenishment box 21a is attached to the image forming apparatus A by the procedure shown in FIGS.

  As described above, in the toner replenishing device of this embodiment, when the toner replenishing box 21a is attached to the relay box 22, the engaging portion 41a of the opening / closing lid 41 of the toner replenishing box 21a becomes the protrusion 22b on the relay box 22 side. The engaging portion 25a of the opening / closing lid 25 of the relay box 22 engages and opens the protrusion 21i on the toner supply box 21a side, and the opening 21e of the toner supply box 21a and the opening of the relay box 22 are opened. 22a communicates, and toner can be supplied from the toner supply box 21a to the relay box 22. When the toner supply box 21a is removed, the open / close lid 41 of the toner supply box 21a is closed by the elastic force of the coil spring 42, and the open / close lid 25 of the relay box 22 is closed by the elastic force of the coil spring 26. Even when air flows in A, the toner does not scatter and the inside of the apparatus is not contaminated.

  In addition, this invention is not limited to the said embodiment, It can deform | transform variously. For example, the number of toner supply boxes may be increased or decreased. Further, the size, shape, structure, etc. of the toner supply box, relay box, etc. may be changed as appropriate. Further, as the partition plate sensor 46, a mechanical type such as a limit switch, an optical type, or the like can be applied.

1 is a side view illustrating a configuration of an image forming apparatus to which an embodiment of a toner supply device of the present invention is applied. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the toner replenishing device of the present invention as viewed from the front. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the toner supply device of FIG. 2 as viewed from the rear. FIG. 3 is a rear view showing the toner replenishing device of FIG. 2 as viewed from the rear. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a toner supply box and a relay box in the toner supply device of FIG. 2 as viewed from the side. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a process of mounting a toner supply box in the toner supply device of FIG. 2. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a mounted state of a toner supply box in the toner supply device of FIG. 2.

Explanation of symbols

A Image forming apparatus B Document sampling apparatus S Paper transport path 1 (1a, 1b, 1c, 1d) Exposure unit 2 (2a, 2b, 2c, 2d) Developing apparatus 3 (3a, 3b, 3c, 3d) Photosensitive drum 4 (4a, 4b, 4c, 4d) Cleaner unit 5 (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d) Charger 7 Intermediate transfer belt 8 Intermediate transfer belt unit 10 Paper feed tray 11 Secondary transfer unit 12 Fixing unit 15 Paper discharge tray 21 Opening / closing door 31 Heating roller 32 Pressure roller 33 Paper peeling plate 34 Conveying roller 35 Movable guide member 36 Frame 21 (21a, 21b, 21c, 21d) Toner supply box 22 Relay box 23 Guide rail 24 Stirring members 25, 41 Opening / closing lid 26 42 Coil spring 43 Screw shaft 44 Partition plate 45 Connection member 46 Partition sensor 47 Engagement spring

Claims (7)

In a toner replenishing device comprising a toner replenishment box that can be mounted and removed, and a relay box that is supplied with toner from the toner replenishment box, temporarily stores the toner, and supplies the toner to the developing device.
An opening / closing lid is provided at an opening of the toner supply box for sending toner to the relay box, and an opening / closing lid is provided at an opening of the relay box for receiving toner from the toner supply box;
When the toner replenishment box is mounted, the opening / closing lid of the toner replenishment box and the opening / closing lid of the relay box are engaged and opened with the parts of the other box, respectively, and the opening of the toner replenishment box and the relay box are opened. A toner replenishing device, wherein the opening communicates.   The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner replenishing box includes a transport driving unit configured to transport toner in the toner replenishing box to an opening of the toner replenishing box.   The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, wherein the toner replenishing box includes a detecting unit that detects a remaining amount of toner in the toner replenishing box.   The toner replenishment box includes a partition plate supported movably in the toner replenishment box, a transport driving means for moving the partition plate to transport toner to the opening of the toner replenishment box, The toner replenishing device according to claim 1, further comprising a detecting unit that detects a moving position of the partition plate and detects a remaining amount of toner based on the moving position of the partition plate.   The opening / closing lid of the toner supply box and the opening / closing lid of the relay box are released and the opening / closing lid is closed when the toner supply box is removed. Toner supply device. In the toner supply box containing toner,
An opening / closing lid provided at an opening for sending toner to the outside;
Biasing means for biasing the opening / closing lid toward the closing side;
The toner replenishment box, wherein the opening / closing lid has an engaging portion where a force in a direction such that the opening / closing lid opens against an urging force of the urging means can be applied. In a relay box that temporarily stores toner,
An open / close lid provided in an opening for receiving toner from the outside;
Biasing means for biasing the opening / closing lid toward the closing side;
The relay box according to claim 1, wherein the opening / closing lid has an engaging portion where a force in a direction such that the opening / closing lid opens against an urging force of the urging means.

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