JP2007310147A - Toner cartridge - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a toner cartridge designed so that optical detection is not be hindered by an image forming apparatus. <P>SOLUTION: The toner cartridge attached to an image forming apparatus and supplies toner to the image forming apparatus includes a toner storage section for storing toner; a toner supply port, through which toner stored in the toner storage section is supplied to the image forming apparatus; a stir member for stirring toner stored in the toner storage section; a conveying member, by which the toner stored in the toner storage section is conveyed toward the supply port; one or more gears disposed on the outside of the toner storage container and used for rotating the conveying member and stirring member; and a gear cover for covering the peripheries of the one or more gears. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner container for supplying toner to an image forming apparatus.

  The image forming apparatus has a toner cartridge for supplying toner to the apparatus. The toner cartridge is detachably attached to the image forming apparatus so that the user can replace the toner cartridge when the toner in the toner cartridge runs out. Further, the toner cartridge is provided with a filling port, and the toner is filled from the filling port. In the toner cartridge, the mixer is always rotated to prevent the toner from being hardened in the toner cartridge. .

  In addition, it may be necessary to use such a toner cartridge after identifying the color, type, and the like. Therefore, the image forming apparatus is configured to determine the type of the mounted toner cartridge. There is.

  Patent Document 1 discloses a slit disk in which each toner cartridge is attached on the rotation axis of a paddle and slits are formed at predetermined intervals in the circumferential direction, and the slit intervals are different from each other. 23 is disclosed. The photo sensor can detect the slit and detect the type of the toner cartridge from the detection signal.

Patent Document 2 discloses a cartridge that rotates a paddle or an auger by providing a drive gear, a driven gear, or the like outside the toner cartridge.
JP 2001-255728 A JP 2004-264460 A

  Thus, in the case where there is a gear on the outside of the cartridge, the present inventors tried to optically detect the slit disclosed in Patent Document 1, and various lead wires for detection were geared. There was a problem of getting involved.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a toner cartridge that does not hinder optical detection by an image forming apparatus.

  In order to solve the above problems and achieve the object, a toner cartridge of the present invention is mounted on an image forming apparatus, and in the toner cartridge for replenishing toner to the image forming apparatus, a toner storage portion for storing toner, and the toner storage A toner replenishing port for supplying the toner contained in the image forming apparatus to the image forming apparatus, an agitating member for agitating the toner contained in the toner accommodating portion, and the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion. A conveying member for conveying the toner toward the replenishing port, one or two or more gears provided outside the toner container for rotating the conveying member and the stirring member, and the one or two or more gears. And a gear cover that covers the periphery of the gear.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a toner cartridge that does not hinder optical detection by the image forming apparatus.

  Hereinafter, the best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic diagram showing an internal structure of an image forming apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG. 1, the image forming apparatus 1 is a quadruple tandem type color copier, and includes a copier body 100, a platen cover 200, a control panel 300, and a plurality of paper feed cassettes 400.

  The copying machine main body 100 plays a main role in image formation, and a cover 100a is provided on the front surface thereof so as to be openable and closable. When the cover 100a is opened, first to fourth toner cartridges 501 to 504 are arranged in parallel on the upper side. The platen cover 200 is provided on the copying machine main body 100 so as to be rotatable about one side end. The control panel 300 is an input unit for a copying operation, and is provided on the upper surface of the copying machine main body 100. The paper feed cassette 400 is for storing paper and is detachably provided on the lower side of the copying machine main body 100. In addition, the paper discharge unit 600 is provided in an upper portion where the first to fourth toner cartridges 501 to 504 are arranged in parallel.

  The first to fourth toner cartridges 501 to 504 are detachably attached to the cartridge holding mechanism 505, respectively. The first to fourth toner cartridges 501 to 504 are for supplying toners of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

  Next, the configuration of the first toner cartridge 501 will be described with reference to FIG. Note that the second to fourth toner cartridges 502 to 504 have almost the same configuration as the first toner cartridge 501, and therefore the description thereof will be omitted.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the entire configuration of the first toner cartridge 501 according to the embodiment from the front side. Here, let the surface with the cap 501n of the first toner cartridge 501 be the front side, and the surface with the mixer gear 501l as the stirring member be the back side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the first toner cartridge 501 includes a cartridge main body 501 a as a toner storage unit that stores toner. The cartridge main body 501a includes a container body 501b and a lid body 501c, and first and second determination protrusions 601 and 602 for determining toner information are provided on the back side thereof.

  The container body 501b has a U-shaped cross section, and the lid body 501c has a rectangular plate shape. On the front side of the container body 501b, a discharge portion 501g is provided as a toner supply port for discharging the toner in the cartridge main body 501a and supplying the toner to the image forming apparatus 1. The discharge portion 501g protrudes downward from the bottom surface of the container body 501b, and a shutter 501h for opening and closing a discharge port (not shown) formed in the discharge portion 501g is provided at a lower end portion thereof.

  A screw 501i as a conveying member for conveying the toner in the cartridge main body 501a to the discharging portion 501g is provided at the inner bottom of the container body 501b. A coupling member 501j as a driving member is provided on the outer side of the container body 501b at the end on the back side of the screw 501i. The coupling member 501j is connected to a driving device 700 shown in FIG. 7 provided in the copying machine main body 100, and is driven to rotate every time toner is supplied.

  Inside the cartridge main body 501a, a mixer 501k for agitating the toner in the cartridge main body 501a is provided. A mixer gear 501l is provided outside the container body 501b at the rear end of the mixer 501k. The mixer gear 501l meshes with a coupling member 501j as a gear provided on the screw 501i, and when the screw 501i is rotated, the mixer 501k is rotated in conjunction therewith.

  A filling port 501m for filling the cartridge main body 501a with toner is formed on the front side of the container body 501b. The filling port 501m has a circular shape and is sealed with a cap 501n.

  FIG. 3 is a view of the first toner cartridge 501 as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the first toner cartridge 501 taken along 1-1 in FIG. The mixer 501k is fixed as follows. On the back side of the first toner cartridge 501, the mixer 501k is connected to the mixer gear 501l via a coupling unit. Further, on the front surface side of the first toner cartridge 501, the mixer 501k has a convex portion 501t formed in a convex shape at the end, and fits into a concave portion 501s provided on the front surface side of the container body.

  Here, the inner diameter of the concave portion 501s is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the convex portion 501t. Therefore, when the mixer 501k rotates to stir the toner, the toner enters a slight gap between the convex portion 501t and the concave portion 501s. Thereby, the friction between the convex portion 501t and the concave portion 501s is reduced, and the mixer 501k can rotate for lubrication.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first toner cartridge 501 taken along the line 2-2 in FIG. The lid 501c has a lid protrusion 501q. The lid protrusion 501q is provided on the upper end of the container 501b when the lid 501c is attached to the container 501b. The lid protrusion 501q includes a side a having a predetermined length in the width direction from the joint between the lid 501c and the container 501b, and a side a from the joint between the lid 501c and the container 501b toward the container 501b. It is a protrusion having a triangular cross section surrounded by a side b of a predetermined length that is substantially orthogonal and a hypotenuse c determined from these two sides.

  Further, when the lid body 501c is attached to the container body 501b, a gap is created between the surface b surrounded by the predetermined length side b of the lid body protrusion 501q and the longitudinal direction of the lid body 501c. It is formed so as to be in contact with each other.

  When the amount of toner in the toner cartridge main body 501a is reduced, a gap is formed between the outer peripheral portion of the mixer 501k and the inner wall of the container body 501b. Therefore, the toner remaining in the gap cannot be conveyed by the mixer 501k. However, in this embodiment, the lid protrusion 501q fills the gap generated at the joint between the container body 501b and the lid 501c, so that toner can be prevented from remaining in the gap.

  Furthermore, since the lid protrusion 501q is provided with a surface having a hypotenuse c, the toner attached to the lid protrusion 501q tends to flow down to the bottom of the container body 501b, and the toner does not easily adhere.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the sweep sheet 501o is fixed to a mounting surface 501r that is an outer peripheral portion of the mixer 501k. Further, the sweep portion 501p, which is a free end that is not fixed to the mounting surface 501r of the sweep sheet 501o, further protrudes in the extending direction from the outer peripheral portion of the mixer 501k. The mixer 501k rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 5, which is a cross-sectional view of the first toner cartridge 501 viewed from the front side. Therefore, the sweeping part 501p contacts the bottom part of the container body 501b.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, a sweep sheet 501o is attached to the attachment surface 501r of the mixer 501k over the longitudinal direction. Further, in the sweep sheet 501o, a plurality of cut portions 501x shown in FIG. 2 are formed at predetermined intervals over the entire length in the width direction in a direction substantially parallel to the rotation axis.

  When the driving force is transmitted from the driving device 700 shown in FIG. 7 and the coupling member 501j is rotationally driven, the screw 501i is rotationally driven integrally therewith, and the mixer 501k is rotationally driven via the mixer gear 501l. Thus, the mixer 501k stirs the toner and sends it to the screw 501i, and the screw 501i conveys the conveyed toner to the discharge unit 501g. Then, the toner is discharged from the discharge unit 501g. When the first toner cartridge 501 is first used, the amount of toner in the container body 501b is large, but even if the sweep sheet 501o rotates integrally with the mixer 501k, the toner that contacts the sweep unit 501p is notched 501x. Therefore, the sweep sheet 501o does not become a resistance to rotation of the mixer 501k.

  Further, when the amount of toner in the first toner cartridge 501 decreases, a gap is formed between the outer peripheral portion of the mixer 501k and the inner wall of the container body 501b. Therefore, the toner remaining in this gap is conveyed by the mixer 501k. I can't do it. However, since the sweep sheet 501o contacts the bottom of the container body 501b, the toner remaining in the gap can be sent out to the screw 501i. As a result, the remaining amount of toner in the first toner cartridge 501 can be reduced.

  Next, referring to FIGS. 6 to 9, a driving device 700 for driving the coupling member 501 j in the first toner cartridge 501 and the accompanying mixer gear 501 l and driving the coupling member 501 j installed in the copying machine main body 100. The type of the first toner cartridge 501 mounted on the copying machine main body 100, here, as an example, a photodetector 702 for determining whether it is a genuine product will be described.

  FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the entire configuration of the first toner cartridge 501 according to the present embodiment as viewed from the back side. FIG. 6 shows a coupling member 501j to which a rotational force is applied. When the coupling member 501j is driven to rotate, the mixer gear 501l rotates, and the rotating body 501v provided coaxially with the mixer gear 501l rotates. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the driving device 700 and the photodetector 702 that rotate the coupling member 501j as seen from the front side. In FIG. 7, a driving device 700, a first driving gear 701 b and a second driving gear 701 c that are rotated by the driving device 700 appear. The first drive gear 701b has a drive coupling member 701a coaxially, and this drive coupling member 701a can be coupled to the previous coupling member 501j. At this time, a part of the rotating body 501v enters between the light emitting element 702a and the light receiving element 702b of the photodetector 702. FIG. 8 is a view of the first toner cartridge 501 viewed from the back side. FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a state in which the coupling member 501j of the first toner cartridge 501 is connected to the drive coupling member 701a that is rotationally driven by the drive device 700 via a gear, as viewed from the back side. In FIG. 8, the relationship between the rotating body 501v, the light emitting element 702a, and the light receiving element 702b is shown.

  Now, the first toner cartridge 501 is inserted into a predetermined slot of the cartridge holding mechanism 505 in the direction of the arrow shown in FIGS. The central axes of the substantially cylindrical coupling member 501j shown in FIG. 6 and the substantially cylindrical drive coupling member 701a shown in FIG. 7 are located on the same axis and face each other. When the mounting of the first toner cartridge 501 is completed, the drive coupling member 701a and the coupling member 501j are fitted. Therefore, when the drive coupling member 701a rotates, the coupling member 501j also rotates at the same rotation speed accordingly.

  Further, the first drive gear 701b is coaxially coupled to the surface of the drive coupling member 701a opposite to the surface that fits with the coupling member 501j of the first toner cartridge 501. In the driving device 700, a second driving gear 701c is attached to the tip of the rotating shaft. When the second drive gear 701c rotates, the gears cut into the outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second drive gears 701b and 701c so that the first drive gear 701b rotates accordingly mesh with each other. Yes.

  Therefore, when the drive device 700 rotates the second drive gear 701c, the first drive gear 701b rotates accordingly, and the drive coupling member 701a coupled to the first drive gear 701b also rotates. Further, the coupling member 501j of the first toner cartridge 501 fitted with the drive coupling member 701a also rotates.

  In the first toner cartridge 501, when the driving force of the driving device 700 is transmitted and the coupling member 501j is rotationally driven, the screw 501i is rotationally driven integrally therewith. Then, the gear cut into the outer peripheral surface of the coupling member 501j meshes with the gear cut into the outer peripheral surface of the mixer gear 501l, and the mixer gear 501l is also rotationally driven.

  Thereby, the mixer 501k agitates the toner and sends it to the screw 501i, and the screw 501i conveys the conveyed toner to the discharge portion 501g.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 6, a cylindrical rotating body 501v concentric with the mixer gear 501l and having a smaller outer diameter than the mixer gear 501l is coupled to the mixer gear 501l. The rotating body 501v protrudes from the surface of the mixer gear 501l facing outward with respect to the first toner cartridge 501, is coaxial with the first toner cartridge 501, and has a predetermined height in the extending direction. It is a substantially cylindrical shape having

  In the rotating body 501v, a plurality of slits as light incident portions are formed radially from the central axis toward the outer peripheral surface at equal intervals. The plurality of slits entering in the height direction parallel to the axis of the rotating body 501v are light emitted from a light emitting element 702a (for example, a light emitting diode) described later when the first toner cartridge 501 is completely mounted. The light receiving element 702b (for example, a photodiode) may be inserted to a depth that does not impede.

  As shown in FIGS. 7 and 9, a photo detector 702 is installed in the copying machine main body 100. The photodetector 702 includes a light emitting element 702a and a light receiving element 702b (the light emitting element may be 702b and the light receiving element may be 702c). The light emitting element 702a and the light receiving element 702b are opposed to each other with a predetermined distance therebetween.

  The light-emitting element 702a may be any element that emits visible light or infrared light. Further, a laser detector may be used as the photodetector 702.

  When the mounting of the first toner cartridge 501 is completed, the light emitting element 702a is disposed so as to be positioned on, for example, the central axis of the rotating body 501v and not to contact the inside of the rotating body 501v. In addition, the light receiving element 702b is located between the light emitting element 702a and a part of the rotating body 501v, that is, on the outer peripheral side of the rotating body 501v. The light receiving element 702b receives light from the light emitting element 702a.

  Here, the rotational speed of the coupling member 501j and the rotational speed of the mixer gear 501l are not the same because the outer diameters are different. The screw 501i needs to be rotated quickly because the toner has to be sequentially conveyed to the discharge unit 501g. The stirring of the toner by the mixer k needs to be performed slowly in order to prevent stress on the toner and adhesion to the inner walls of the container body 501b and the lid body 501c. Therefore, the rotational speed of the mixer 501k is slower than the rotational speed of the screw 501i. In other words, the rotational speed of the mixer gear 501l connected to the mixer 501k is slower than the rotational speed of the coupling member 501j connected to the screw 501i. That is, the outer diameter of the mixer gear 501l that rotates while meshing with the coupling member 501j is larger than the outer diameter of the coupling member 501j.

  Therefore, the rotational speed of the rotating body 501v combined with the mixer 501k is similarly slower than the rotational speed of the coupling member 501j. In the present embodiment, since the gear ratio is 1: 3.7, the mixer gear 501l is 3.7 times slower than the coupling member 501j.

  The rotation speed of the mixer 501k (and the rotating body 501v) cannot be increased for the reason described above. On the other hand, the time required for detecting the rotating body 501v needs to be short. This is because if the time required for detection of the rotating body 501v becomes long, the screw 501i that is 3.7 times the rotation of the mixer 501k rotates, and more toner than necessary is supplied to the discharge unit 501g during detection. Replenishment of toner more than necessary becomes a factor that degrades image quality. For this reason, in the present embodiment, accurate detection by the photodetector 702 is performed in a short time by devising the number of slits formed in the rotator 501v.

  For example, it is assumed that two slits are formed at equal intervals with respect to 360 degrees around the rotation body 501v at an appropriate opening angle without considering the rotation speed of the coupling member 501j and the rotation speed of the mixer gear 501l. Since the rotation speed of the mixer gear 501l is slow and the interval between the slits is large, the detection time by the photodetector 702 becomes long, or conversely, if the detection time is shortened, the detection accuracy is lost.

  Therefore, in order to ensure highly accurate detection, it is necessary to determine an appropriate number of slits in order to narrow the gap between the slits. Therefore, an appropriate number of slits can be determined based on the ratio of the rotational speed of the coupling member 501j to the rotational speed of the mixer gear 501l. The rotational speed of the coupling member 501j is R1 (rad / s), and the rotational speed of the mixer gear 501l is R2 (rad / s). When the ratio of the rotational speeds of the two is K = R2 / R1, it is only necessary to form 1 / K or more slits in the rotating body 501v. In the present embodiment, the rotational speed R1 of the coupling member 501j and the rotational speed R2 of the mixer gear 501l are 3.7: 1. Therefore, this embodiment shows a case where 3.7 is rounded up to form four slits. With this configuration, it is possible to reliably detect the rotation of the rotating body 501v while the coupling member 501j rotates once.

  As shown in FIGS. 6, 8, and 9, slits are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the rotator 501 v at four locations at regular intervals with respect to 360 degrees around the circumference. The opening angle of this slit is, for example, 30 degrees. Here, the shapes of the coupling member 501j, the mixer gear 501l, and the rotating body 501v are all the same as those of the first to fourth toner cartridges 501, 502, 503, and 504 having four colors.

When the first toner cartridge 501 is mounted at a predetermined position of the copying machine main body 100, the _{driving device 700} rotates the second driving gear 701c, and the gear cut into the outer peripheral surface meshes with the first driving cartridge. The gear 701b rotates, and the drive coupling member 701a coupled to the first drive gear 701b also rotates. Then, the coupling member 501j of the first toner cartridge 501 fitted with the drive coupling member 701a also rotates. Accordingly, the gear cut into the outer peripheral surface of the coupling member 501j and the gear cut into the outer peripheral surface of the mixer gear 501l are engaged with each other. The rotating body 501v in which the slits are cut also rotates.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the light emitting element 702a is accommodated so as not to contact the inside of the rotating body 501v, and the light receiving element 702b is positioned between the light emitting element 702a and the rotating body 501v, that is, on the outer periphery of the rotating body 501v. is doing.

  When the rotator 501v rotates, a plurality of slits are cut in the outer peripheral surface of the rotator 501v, so that the light receiving element 702b cannot receive the light from the light emitting element 702a by being blocked by the rotator 501v. In some cases, light can be transmitted through the slit of the rotating body 501v and received. The light detector 702 supplies a signal whose level changes to a control unit (not shown) in response to light reception by the light receiving element 702b synchronized with light shielding from the light emitting element 702 due to rotation of the mixer gear 501l.

  The photodetector 702 outputs a signal H to the control unit when the light receiving element 702b does not receive light from the light emitting element 702a, and a signal L when the light receiving element 702b receives light from the light emitting element 702a. To do. In this embodiment, the outer circumferential surface of the rotator 501v has slits at four locations of 30 degrees at regular intervals with respect to 360 degrees per revolution. Here, the output time when the photodetector 702 outputs the signal H to the control unit is H time, and the output time when the signal L is output is L time.

  Ideally, since the outer peripheral surface of the rotating body 501v has slits at four positions of 30 degrees at regular intervals with respect to one rotation of 360 degrees, L time / H time = 0.5. Here, considering a slight detection error in the vicinity of the boundary between the portion where the slit of the rotator 501v is formed and the portion where the slit is not formed, for example, L time / H time = 0.2 to 0.8. In this case, the control unit determines that the first toner cartridge 501 attached to the copying machine main body 100 is a genuine product. If the L time / H time is other than 0.2 to 0.8, the control unit determines that the first toner cartridge 501 mounted on the copying machine main body 100 is not a genuine product.

  Next, the gear cover 501y, which is an important part of the present embodiment, will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 9, by providing the above-described photodetector 702, power is supplied to the photodetector 702 in addition to the lead wire 703 for supplying power to the driving source 700. There is a lead wire 704 for transmitting a signal to the control unit. The lead wire holder 705 bundles the lead wire 703 and the lead wire 704.

  Here, FIG. 8 is a rear view of the toner cartridge main body 501a. As shown in FIG. 8, the outer peripheral surfaces of the coupling member 501j and the mixer gear 501l have cut gears and mesh with each other. Moreover, the outer peripheral surface of the rotary body 501v has slits at a plurality of locations.

  The lead wire 703 and the lead wire 704 are located in the vicinity of the coupling member 501j, the mixer gear 501l, and the rotating body 501v so as to be freely movable. Therefore, a gear cover 501y shown in FIGS. 6 and 8 is provided in order to prevent the coupling member 501j, the mixer gear 501l, and the rotating body 501v from winding the lead wire 703 and the lead wire 704.

  The gear cover 501y is formed on the front side of the first toner cartridge 501 so as to surround the outer periphery of the coupling member 501j and the mixer gear 501l.

  Here, a portion of the gear cover 501y that surrounds the outer periphery of the coupling member 501j with substantially the same curvature as that of the coupling member 501j is formed as follows. When the center of the coupling member 501j is used as a reference, the outer edge 511 of the gear cover 501y is located at the same position as or far from the outer edge 512 of the coupling member 501j in the extending direction from the first toner cartridge 501. Formed as follows.

  A portion of the gear cover 501y that surrounds the outer periphery of the mixer gear 501l with substantially the same curvature as that of the mixer gear 501l is formed as follows. The outer edge 511 of the gear cover 501y is formed at the same position as or far from the outer edge 513 of the mixer gear 501l in the extending direction from the first toner cartridge 501 when the center of the mixer gear 501l is used as a reference. The

  On the premise that the gear cover 501y surrounds the outer periphery of the coupling member 501j and the mixer gear 501l under the above-described conditions, it is further formed as follows. When the center of the cylindrical rotating body 501v is used as a reference, at least one position of the outer edge 511 of the gear cover 501y is the same as the position of the outer edge 514 of the rotating body 501v in the extending direction from the first toner cartridge 501. Alternatively, it is formed to be far away.

  Of course, when the center of the cylindrical rotary member 501v is used as a reference, all the outer edges 511 of the gear cover 501y are in the same position as the outer edge 514 of the rotary member 501v in the extending direction from the first toner cartridge 501. Alternatively, it may be formed to be far away.

  By providing the gear cover 501y, the lead wire 703 and the lead wire 704 do not approach the coupling member 501j, the mixer gear 501l, and the rotating body 501v, and can be prevented from being caught. Further, when the user performs an operation such as replacement of the first toner cartridge 501, the coupling member 501j, the mixer gear 501l, and the rotating body 501v are not exposed by the gear cover 501y, so that the user can be prevented from being injured.

  Further, by bringing the lead wire 703 and the lead wire 704 into contact with the outer edge 511 of the gear cover 501y, the lead wire 703 and the lead wire 704 are not allowed to move freely, and can be prevented from being caught.

  Here, FIGS. 5, 8, and 9 show a cartridge outer surface portion 501w formed by joining the lid body 501c and the container body 501b of the first toner cartridge 501. FIG. The cartridge outer surface portion 501w is an outer peripheral surface where the lid body 501c and the container body 501b are coupled to each other on the side where the mixer gear 501l of the first toner cartridge 501 is connected. When the lid body 501c and the container body 501b are combined, the outer edge of the lid body 501c and the outer edge of the container body 501b facing each other have the same shape and the same size. Therefore, the cartridge outer surface portion 501w is a flat surface without unevenness.

  Further, when the center of the cylindrical rotating body 501v is used as a reference, the cartridge outer surface portion 501w is located at the same position as the outer edge 514 of the rotating body 501v or far away from the first toner cartridge 501 in the extending direction. Formed to be.

  When the center of the cylindrical rotating body 501v is used as a reference, the cartridge outer surface portion 501w is the same position as the farthest position of the outer edge 511 of the gear cover 501y in the extending direction from the first toner cartridge 501. It is formed to be in a relationship. Therefore, the surface of the outer edge 511 of the gear cover 501y that includes the portion located farthest from the first toner cartridge 501 in the extending direction and the cartridge outer surface portion 501w is the first toner cartridge 501. Is perpendicular to

  Therefore, the first toner cartridge 501 can be easily set up with the gear cover 501y facing down.

  Further, when the center of the cylindrical rotating body 501v is used as a reference, the portion of the outer edge 511 of the gear cover 501y that is farthest from the first toner cartridge 501 in the extending direction is the cartridge outer surface portion 501w. It may be far from the surface. At that time, when the center of the cylindrical rotating body 501v is used as a reference so that the surface including the outer edge 511 of the gear cover 501y is perpendicular to the first toner cartridge 501, the first toner cartridge The outer edge 511 of the gear cover 501y can be formed in the same position in the extending direction from 501. Therefore, the first toner cartridge 501 can be easily set up with the gear cover 501y facing down.

  Further, when the center of the cylindrical rotating body 501v is used as a reference, the farthest positions on the outer edge 511 of the gear cover 501y from the first toner cartridge 501 in the extending direction are a plurality of positions. It can also be formed. At this time, the number of the plurality of locations is determined so that the first toner cartridge 501 can be set up with the gear cover 501y facing down.

  As described above, since the first toner cartridge 501 can be easily set up with the gear cover 501y down, the surface having the filling port 501m for filling the toner can be easily stopped.

  Therefore, when the toner is replenished to the first toner cartridge 501, the toner can be replenished without requiring any special labor and a device for holding the first toner cartridge 501.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments as they are, and can be embodied by modifying the constituent elements without departing from the scope of the invention in the implementation stage. Moreover, various inventions can be formed by appropriately combining a plurality of constituent elements disclosed in the embodiment. For example, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the embodiment. Furthermore, you may combine suitably the component covering different embodiment.

1 is a schematic diagram showing the internal structure of an electrophotographic copying machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the toner cartridge according to the same embodiment as viewed from above the front surface. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the toner cartridge according to the same embodiment as viewed from above. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the toner cartridge according to the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view showing an internal configuration of a toner cartridge according to the same embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the toner cartridge according to the same embodiment as viewed from above the back surface. The perspective view which looked at the inside of the electrophotographic copying machine concerning the embodiment from the front upper part. FIG. 4 is a diagram of the toner cartridge according to the same embodiment viewed from the back. FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view of the toner cartridge according to the same embodiment as viewed from above the back surface.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Image forming apparatus, 100 ... Copy machine main body, 200 ... Platen cover, 300 ... Control panel, 400 ... Paper feed cassette, 501 ... First toner cartridge, 501a ... Toner cartridge main body, 501b ... Container body, 501c ... Lid Body, 501g ... discharge part, 501h ... shutter, 501i ... screw, 501j ... coupling member, 501k ... mixer, 501l ... mixer gear, 501m ... filling port, 501n ... cap, 501o ... sweeping sheet, 501p ... sweeping part, 501q ... Lid projection part, 501r ... mounting surface, 501s ... concave part, 501t ... convex part, 501w ... cartridge outer surface part, 501x ... notch part, 501y ... gear cover, 502 ... second toner cartridge, 503 ... third toner cartridge 504 ... Fourth toner cart 505 ... cartridge holding mechanism, 601 ... first discrimination projection, 602 ... second discrimination projection, 600 ... paper discharge unit, 700 ... drive device, 701a ... drive coupling member, 701b ... first Drive gear, 701c ... second drive gear, 702 ... photodetector, 702a ... light emitting element, 702b ... light receiving element, 703 ... lead wire, 704 ... lead wire, 705 ... lead wire holder.

Claims (7)

In a toner cartridge mounted on an image forming apparatus and supplying toner to the image forming apparatus,
A toner container for containing toner;
A toner supply port for supplying toner stored in the toner storage unit to the image forming apparatus;
A stirring member for stirring the toner stored in the toner storage unit;
A conveying member that conveys the toner accommodated in the toner accommodating portion toward the replenishing port;
One or more gears provided outside the toner container for rotating the conveying member and the stirring member;
And a gear cover that covers the periphery of the one or more gears.   A plurality of openings and protrusions are alternately formed at equal intervals in the rotation direction in at least one cylindrical gear among the one or more gears in order to determine the type of the toner cartridge. The toner cartridge according to claim 1.   The toner container has a predetermined length along one direction, and the one or more gears and a gear cover are provided at one end of the toner container in the one direction. 3. The toner cartridge according to claim 2, wherein a filling port for filling the toner into the toner container is formed at an end.   The outer edge of the gear cover has the one or more gears and one or more gears extending in the extending direction from the toner container when the center of any one of the gears 1 or 2 or more gears is used as a reference. 4. The toner cartridge according to claim 3, wherein the toner cartridge is formed farther from the outer edge of the protrusion.   The toner cartridge according to claim 4, wherein the gear cover has a shape that allows the toner cartridge to stand upright with the gear cover down.   When the center of any one of the one or two or more gears is used as a reference, from the outer edge of the one or more gears or the protrusions in the extending direction from a part of the toner storage portion 6. The toner cartridge according to claim 5, wherein a surface including an outer edge of the toner cartridge formed far away and a surface including the outer edge of the gear cover are perpendicular to the toner cartridge.   6. The toner cartridge according to claim 5, wherein a surface including an outer edge of the gear cover is perpendicular to the toner cartridge.

Images