JP6465309B2 - Toner container - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a toner container that supplies toner to a developing unit of an image forming apparatus.

  In Patent Document 1, a toner container containing toner as a developer is detachably attached to an image forming apparatus main body. The toner container is formed in substantially the same shape so that various image forming units can be used in common.

  If the shape of the toner container is almost the same, there may be a case where the toner container is erroneously attached to the image forming apparatus body having different specifications depending on the color and characteristics of the toner.

  In Patent Document 1, a convex portion is formed on the outer surface of the case of the toner container, and an engagement portion that engages with the convex portion is formed on the main body of the image forming apparatus, so that toner specifications (color, electrostatic polarity, magnetic / magnetic It prevents mis-mounting of toner containers with different magnetic properties (fixing characteristics, particle size, etc.) and maintains incompatibility.

JP 2011-191618 A

  However, if the toner container used for the image forming apparatus main body of a specific model can be mounted on the image forming apparatus main body of another model by relatively simple processing such as cutting out the convex portion of the incompatible part. There is. In order to prevent such unauthorized use, in the configuration of the incompatible portion, a concave portion recessed on the convex portion side corresponding to the convex portion is formed on the case inner surface of the toner container, and the convex portion is cut off to form the case. It can be considered that there is a hole so that it cannot be used as a toner container.

  However, the toner container has the following drawbacks. That is, the toner container is generally a resin molded product, and is formed by molding two divided bodies divided into upper and lower parts and joining the divided bodies by ultrasonic welding. In this case, a convex part and a concave part are formed on one side of the divided body, but the mold shape corresponding to the convex part and the concave part is not directly formed on the mold, but is formed on a nest that is fitted into the mold. To do. However, if you use a combination of different types of nesting as a nesting with a recess for the case outer surface and a projection for the case inner surface, the nesting projection for the case inner surface will be There is a problem that the molding die is damaged by colliding with the molding surface of the outer insert.

  The present invention has been made in view of such a point, and an object of the present invention is to ensure incompatibility of the toner container without causing a problem of damage to the molding die.

The toner container according to the present invention has incompatible means and is attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus. The toner container includes a case in which toner is accommodated, and the case engages with latch means provided individually according to the model of the image forming apparatus main body to hold the toner container in a mounted state. Means are provided as the incompatible means, and the image forming apparatus main body is provided with urging means for urging the toner container in the anti-mounting direction in a mounted state of the toner container. A rotation shaft rotatably supported by the image forming apparatus main body; and a latch provided at the other end of the rotation shaft. The engagement means is configured such that the latch is inserted by a toner container mounting operation. A recess that is continuous with the first guide, and the toner container is biased by the biasing means by releasing the toner container mounting operation. The second guide for guiding the latch in the anti-insertion direction, and the latch guided by the second guide is fixed to fix the toner container. A stopper that holds the toner container, a third guide that continues to the stopper and guides the latch by a pushing operation in the toner container mounting direction, and is released from the stopper; By releasing the pushing operation in the direction, the toner container moves in the anti-mounting direction by the urging force of the urging means, so that the latch guided by the third guide is guided in the anti-insertion direction and the toner container is imaged. And a fourth guide to be removed from the forming apparatus main body .

According to this, when trying to divert the toner container used for the image forming apparatus main body of a specific model to another model and processing or removing the engaging means (incompatible means), the toner container is removed from the image forming apparatus main body. Since the latch means and the engaging means are not engaged when the toner container is attached to the toner container, the toner container cannot be held in the attached state. Therefore, since nesting is not performed on both sides of the mold, and nesting is performed only on one side, unauthorized use can be prevented without causing the above-described problem of damage to the mold.

  Further, when the toner container is properly used, the toner container is mounted, and it is determined whether or not the toner container and the image forming apparatus main body are matched based on whether or not the latch means is engaged with the engaging means. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner container from being erroneously attached to the image forming apparatus main body of a different model.

  Moreover, since it is not necessary to form a recessed part (concave part recessed in the said convex part side) in the bottom wall part of a case inner surface, substantially the whole inner surface of the bottom wall part of a case can be formed in flat surface shape.

Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the toner from being collected in the concave portion formed in the bottom wall portion of the case without being used .

According to the above configuration , the position and shape of the latch constituting the latch means and the position and shape of the recess constituting the toner container engaging means (non-compatible means) are changed according to the model of the image forming apparatus main body. By making these different, it is possible to reliably impart incompatibility to the toner container. Further, the toner container can be attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus main body simply by pushing the toner container in the attachment direction, and the attachment / detachment operation is simple.

  According to the present invention, incompatibility can be reliably imparted to the toner container without causing a problem of damage to the molding die.

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a schematic structure of the image forming apparatus. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an end portion on the mounting side of the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a perspective view of the latch means in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4B is a plan view and a side view of the biasing means of the latch means. FIG. 5 is a rear view showing an end portion on the mounting side of the toner container according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the engaging means in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the engaging means according to the embodiment of the present invention as viewed at a different angle from FIG. FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the engaging means viewed from an angle different from that in FIG. 7 in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 9 is a process diagram showing a state in which the latch is positioned at the back of the recess by the toner container mounting operation in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a process diagram illustrating a state in which the latch is fixed with a stopper and the mounted state of the toner container is held in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 11 is a process diagram illustrating a state in which the latch is released from the stopper when the toner container is removed from the image forming apparatus main body in the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a modification of the latch means.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In addition, this invention is not limited to the following embodiment.

  FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic structure of the image forming apparatus 1. The image forming apparatus 1 is, for example, a tandem color printer, and includes a developing unit A, an intermediate transfer unit B disposed above the developing unit A, and a plurality (four) of the intermediate transfer unit B disposed above the intermediate transfer unit B. The intermediate transfer unit B is arranged between the developing unit A and the toner container C in parallel. The image forming apparatus 1 also includes a primary transfer unit 8, a secondary transfer unit 9, a fixing unit 11, and an optical scanning device 15. The developing unit A has a plurality (four) of image forming units 16 disposed above the optical scanning device 15. The intermediate transfer unit B includes an endless intermediate transfer belt 7, and the intermediate transfer belts 7 are arranged above the four image forming units 16 along the arrangement direction of the image forming units 16.

  A paper feed cassette 3 is disposed below the image forming apparatus main body 2 of the image forming apparatus 1. The paper feed cassette 3 stores and accommodates paper before printing (not shown) therein. A first paper transport unit 21 is provided on the side of the paper feed cassette 3. The first paper transport unit 21 receives the paper fed from the paper feed cassette 3 and transports the paper to the upper secondary transfer unit 9.

  A manual paper feed unit 5 is provided on the side of the paper feed cassette 3 opposite to the first paper transport unit 21. A second paper transport unit 22 is provided between the manual paper feed unit 5 and the first paper transport unit 21. The second paper transport unit 22 receives the paper sent from the manual paper feed unit 5 and transports it to the first paper transport unit 21.

  The optical scanning device 15 is disposed above the second paper transport unit 22 and irradiates the image forming unit 16 with laser light based on the image data received by the image forming device 1. Each intermediate transfer belt 7 is wound around a plurality of rollers and is driven to rotate by a driving device (not shown).

  The intermediate transfer belt 7 is configured such that a toner image is transferred from the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of photosensitive drums 25 by contacting the outer peripheral surfaces of the plurality of photosensitive drums 25.

  The four image forming units 16 are arranged in a line along the intermediate transfer belt 7 and respectively form yellow, magenta, cyan, or black toner images. Each image forming unit 16 includes a photosensitive drum 25 that is an image carrier, and a charger 31, a developing unit 33, and a cleaning unit 32 that are disposed around the photosensitive drum 25.

  The charger 31 charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 25. An electrostatic latent image is formed on the photosensitive drum 25 charged by the charger 31 by the laser light emitted from the optical scanning device 15. The developing unit 33 forms a toner image on the surface of the photosensitive drum 25 by developing the electrostatic latent image.

  The primary transfer unit 8 is disposed above each image forming unit 16. The primary transfer unit 8 includes a transfer roller that primarily transfers the toner image formed on the photosensitive drum 25 by the image forming unit 16 to the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 7.

  The intermediate transfer belt 7 is driven to rotate, and the toner image on each photosensitive drum 25 is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 7 at a predetermined timing, so that yellow, magenta, A color toner image in which toner images of four colors of cyan and black are superimposed on each other is formed. Further, the surface of the photosensitive drum 25 on which the toner image is transferred to the intermediate transfer belt 7 is cleaned by the cleaning unit 32.

  The secondary transfer unit 9 has a transfer roller 17 disposed on the side of the intermediate transfer belt 7. The secondary transfer unit 9 applies a transfer bias voltage having a polarity opposite to that of the toner to the sheet sent from the first sheet transport unit 21 so as to transfer the toner image from the intermediate transfer belt 7 to the sheet. It has become.

  A belt cleaning unit 34 for cleaning the surface of the intermediate transfer belt 7 is provided on the side of the intermediate transfer belt 7 opposite to the secondary transfer unit 9.

  The fixing unit 11 is provided above the secondary transfer unit 9. Between the secondary transfer unit 9 and the fixing unit 11, a third paper transport unit 23 that transports the paper on which the toner image is secondarily transferred to the fixing unit 11 is formed. The fixing unit 11 includes a pressure roller 18, a fixing roller 19, and a heating roller 20. The fixing unit 11 heats and pressurizes the sheet conveyed from the third sheet conveying unit 23 to fix the toner image on the sheet.

  A branch portion 27 is provided above the fixing portion 11. The sheet discharged from the fixing unit 11 is discharged from the branching unit 27 to the sheet discharging unit 28 formed on the upper portion of the image forming apparatus 1 when double-sided printing is not performed. When performing duplex printing, the paper is conveyed again from the branching unit 27 to the secondary transfer unit 9 via the fourth paper conveying unit 24.

  On the front side of the intermediate transfer unit B, an inner unit D is disposed so as to cover the front side of the intermediate transfer unit B. Four toner containers C are detachably attached to the image forming apparatus main body 2, and each toner container C contains toner of each color of cyan, magenta, yellow, or black. The toner is supplied from the toner container C to the developing unit 33 of the developing unit A via the inner unit D.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the toner container C includes a rectangular case 35 in which toner is accommodated. A space for storing toner is formed in the case 35, and the inner surface of the bottom wall portion of the case 35 is formed to be substantially flat, and the outer surface of the bottom wall portion is also substantially the same. It is formed in a flat shape. A stirring shaft 36 of a stirring mechanism (not shown) provided in the case 35 protrudes from an end portion on the mounting side of the case 35 (end portion on the back side in FIG. 2). A container side coupling 37 is fixed to the protruding end portion of the stirring shaft 36. On the other hand, the power transmission shaft 38 is connected to the output shaft of the drive motor 39 at the toner container C mounting position of the image forming apparatus main body 2, and the main body side coupling 40 is fixed to the tip of the power transmission shaft 38. ing. Then, by coupling the container side coupling 37 to the main body side coupling 40, the driving force of the drive motor 39 is transmitted to the agitation shaft 36 to agitate the toner inside the case 35, and the toner is developed by the conveying screw (not shown). 33 is supplied. Further, a coil spring 41 as an urging means is externally attached to the power transmission shaft 38, and the toner container C is urged in the anti-mounting direction (front side in FIG. 2) by the coil spring 41 when the toner container C is mounted. doing.

  As shown in FIG. 4, latch means 42 are individually attached to the container mounting location of the image forming apparatus main body 2 at different locations according to the model of the image forming apparatus 1. On the other hand, in the case 35, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the engaging means 43 is individually provided at different locations depending on the model of the image forming apparatus 1. The latch means 42 is engaged with the engaging means 43 by the toner container C mounting operation (pushing operation toward the back side in FIG. 2) to hold the toner container C mounted state.

  Hereinafter, the configuration of the latch means 42 and the engagement means 43 will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, the latch means 42 includes a movable shaft 46 that is rotatably supported at one end by a support shaft 45 on a base 44, and a cylindrical latch 47 is fixed to the other end of the movable shaft 46. Has been. The support shaft 45 is inserted into a rotating shaft 44a formed on the base 44 with a torsion coil spring 60 shown in FIG. 4B interposed therebetween, and can be rotated around the rotating shaft 44a. It is urged in the direction and the axial direction (upward in FIG. 4A). In FIG. 4A, in order to clearly show the latch 47, the surface on the side of the engaging means 43 is drawn upward, but in the usage mode, the latch 47 is engaged as shown in FIGS. Since it is directed to the means 43 side, FIG. 4A and FIGS. Therefore, the “right” and “left” described in FIG. 4 and the “right” and “left” described in FIGS.

  The torsion coil spring 60 includes a coil spring portion 60a, a first arm portion 60b extending tangentially from one end of the coil spring portion 60a, and a second arm portion 60c extending tangentially from the other end. The distal end portion of the second arm portion 60c is bent in the axial direction of the coil spring portion 60a to form an engaging portion 60d. The inner diameter of the coil spring portion 60a is larger than that of the rotating shaft 44a, and the outer shape of the coil spring portion 60a is formed smaller than the outer shape of the support shaft 45 and can be compressed in the axial direction. The torsion coil spring 60 is inserted into the rotary shaft 44a from the side where the first arm portion 60b is formed, and the first arm portion 60b engages with the engagement boss 44b formed on the base 44 and moves in the anti-twist direction. Is regulated. Next, when the support shaft 45 of the latch 47 is inserted into the rotating shaft 44 a into which the torsion coil spring 60 is inserted, the engaging portion 60 d of the second arm portion 60 c is engaged with the right side surface of the movable shaft 46. When the support shaft 45 is inserted into the rotation shaft 44a, the support shaft 45 is prevented from coming off from the rotation shaft 44a by stopper means (not shown). Therefore, the latch 47 is biased by the torsion coil spring 60 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 4A and the axial direction of the rotating shaft 44a.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 8, the engaging means 43 includes a recess 48 into which the latch 47 is inserted by the mounting operation of the toner container C.

  The recess 48 is opened at the end in the mounting direction of the toner container C, and includes four first to fourth guides 49 to 52 and one stopper 53 therein.

  The first guide 49 is configured by a side surface of the recess 48 that extends in the container mounting direction on the upper side in FIG. 6, and guides the latch 47 in the insertion direction (the inner part of the recess 48).

A slope 48a for inserting and guiding the latch 47 is formed at the end of the bottom surface of the recess 48 in the latch insertion direction. A flat surface 48b is continuous with the slope 48a. The step is formed as a second guide 50. The second guide 50 is continuous with the first guide 49 and is inclined in the container mounting direction as it approaches the middle in the width direction of the recess 48. Accordingly, the second guide 50 guides the latch 47 in the anti-insertion direction when the toner container C is moved in the anti-attachment direction by the spring force of the coil spring 41 by releasing the attachment operation of the toner container C. (See FIGS. 9 and 10).

  In the stepped portion 48 c on the bottom surface of the recess 48, a further stepped portion is formed continuously with the step as a boundary, and this stepped portion is used as a stopper 53. The stopper 53 is continuous with the second guide 50 and fixes the latch 47 guided by the second guide 50 in the anti-insertion direction so as not to move further in the anti-insertion direction, thereby maintaining the mounted state of the toner container C. It is like that.

  The third guide 51 includes a step between the step-down portion 48 c and the stopper 53. In other words, the third guide 51 is continuous with the stopper 53 and is configured to guide the latch 47 in the insertion direction and release it from the stopper 53 by pushing the toner container C in the mounting direction (see FIG. 11).

  A further step-down portion 48d is formed continuously on the stopper 53 on the bottom surface of the recess 48 so as to extend in the container mounting direction with a step as a boundary, and a side surface extending in the container mounting direction including this step is used as the fourth guide 52. That is, the fourth guide 52 is continuous with the third guide 51, and the toner container C moves in the anti-mounting direction by the spring force of the coil spring 41 by releasing the pushing operation in the mounting direction of the toner container C. The latch 47 guided by the three guides 51 is guided in the opposite insertion direction so that the toner container C is detached from the image forming apparatus main body 2.

  The toner container C configured as described above is attached to the image forming apparatus main body 2 through the following steps.

  First, the toner container C is pushed into the container mounting portion of the image forming apparatus main body 2. By this pushing operation (mounting operation of the toner container C), the latch 47 is inserted into the concave portion 48 and is sequentially guided in the insertion direction by the first guide 49 to the slope 48a, the flat surface 48b, and the step-down portion 48c. FIG. 9 shows a state in which the latch 47 is located at the back of the recess 48. In parallel with this, the container side coupling 37 is coupled to the main body side coupling 40.

  At this time, if the toner container C does not match the model of the image forming apparatus main body 2, the latch means 42 and the engaging means 43 are misaligned with each other, and the latch 47 cannot be inserted into the recess 48. The container side coupling 37 is not coupled to the main body side coupling 40, and the toner container C cannot be mounted at the mounting position of the image forming apparatus main body 2. As a result, a situation where the toner container C is erroneously attached to the image forming apparatus main body 2 of a different model is prevented, and incompatibility is maintained.

  Next, when the pushing operation of the toner container C is stopped and the hand is released from the toner container C (by releasing the mounting operation of the toner container C), the toner container C is moved in the anti-mounting direction by the spring force of the coil spring 41, The latch 47 is guided in the anti-insertion direction by the second guide 50 and reaches the stopper 53. As a result, as shown in FIG. 10, the latch 47 is fixed so as not to move further in the anti-insertion direction, and the mounted state of the toner container C is maintained.

  On the other hand, when removing the toner container C from the image forming apparatus main body 2, when the toner container C is pushed in the mounting direction, the latch 47 is guided by the third guide 51 and released from the stopper 53 as shown in FIG. 11. Then, it moves to the stepped-down part 48d side.

  Subsequently, when the pushing operation in the mounting direction of the toner container C is stopped (by releasing the pushing operation), the toner container C is pushed back by the spring force of the coil spring 41 (by moving in the anti-mounting direction). The container side coupling 37 is detached from the main body side coupling 40. As a result, the latch 47 is guided in the anti-insertion direction by the fourth guide 52 and is released from the recess 48, and the toner container C is removed from the container mounting position of the image forming apparatus main body 2.

  By the way, from the viewpoint of preventing the toner container C from being illegally attached to the image forming apparatus body having different specifications (to ensure incompatibility of the toner container C), a convex portion is provided on the outer surface of the case of the toner container C. In some cases, a concave portion recessed on the convex portion side is formed on the inner surface of the case corresponding to the convex portion. According to this, when the convex portion is cut, the case has a hole and cannot be used as the toner container C, so that incompatibility of the toner container C can be ensured.

  However, in this case, the following problem occurs. That is, the toner container C is generally a resin molded product, and is formed by molding two divided bodies divided into upper and lower parts and joining the divided bodies by ultrasonic welding. In this case, a convex part and a concave part are formed in the lower divided body, but the mold shape corresponding to the convex part and the concave part is not directly formed in the mold, but in a nest fitted in the mold. Form. And, as a nest having a recess for the outer surface of the case and a nest having a convex portion for the inner surface of the case, the nests for the inner surface of the case are used for the outer surface of the case when the mold is closed. There is a problem that the molding die is damaged by colliding with the molding surface of the insert.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the case 35 is engaged with the latch means 42 provided individually according to the model of the image forming apparatus main body 2 to hold the toner container C in the mounted state. Means 43 is provided as incompatible means. According to this, for example, when the engaging means 43 is processed or eliminated in order to divert the toner container C used in the image forming apparatus main body 2 of a specific model to another model, the toner container C is removed from the image forming apparatus main body. 2, the latch means 42 and the engaging means 43 do not engage with each other, so the toner container C cannot be held in the attached state. Therefore, it is possible to ensure incompatibility of the toner container C and prevent unauthorized use without causing the above-described problem of damage to the molding die.

  Further, when using an appropriate toner container, the toner container C and the image forming apparatus main body are determined by whether or not the latch means 42 is engaged with the engaging means 43 by the mounting operation of the toner container C to the image forming apparatus main body 2. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner container C from being erroneously attached to the image forming apparatus main body 2 of a different model.

  In addition, the toner container C can be attached to or detached from the image forming apparatus main body 2 only by pushing the toner container C in the attachment direction, and the attachment / detachment operation is simple.

  Further, since it is not necessary to form a recess (a recess recessed toward the convex portion) on the inner surface of the bottom wall portion of the case 35, substantially the entire inner surface of the bottom wall portion of the case 35 can be formed into a flat surface. . Therefore, it is possible to prevent the toner from remaining in the concave portion of the bottom wall portion of the case 35 without being used.

  FIG. 12 is a plan view showing a modification of the latch means 42. In this modification, a movable shaft 46 having a bent shape in the middle is used as the latch means 42. The bent portion and the bending angle are individually prepared according to the model of the image forming apparatus main body 2. Of course, the installation location of the engaging means 43 on the toner container C side and the shape of the recess 48 are also the model of the image forming apparatus main body 2. Depending on the situation, it will be prepared individually. As a result, it is possible to prevent erroneous mounting of the toner container C and maintain incompatibility.

  Although not shown, the length of the movable shaft 46 is individually prepared as the latch means 42 according to the model of the image forming apparatus main body 2, and naturally the shape of the recess 48 of the engaging means 43 on the toner container C side is prepared. Alternatively, it may be prepared individually according to the model of the image forming apparatus main body 2. Then, only the latch means 42 having the movable shaft 46 having an appropriate length corresponding to the model of the image forming apparatus main body 2 and the engaging means 43 of the toner container C matched with the latch means 42 can be engaged with each other. It may be possible to prevent the container C from being erroneously attached and to maintain incompatibility.

  As described above, the present invention relates to a toner container that supplies toner to a developing unit of an image forming apparatus.

2 Image forming apparatus main body 33 Developing section 35 Case 41 Coil spring (biasing means)
42 Latching means 43 Engaging means (incompatible means)
46 rotation shaft 47 latch 48 recess 49 first guide 50 second guide 51 third guide 52 fourth guide 53 Stopper C toner container

Claims (2)

A toner container having incompatible means and attached to the main body of the image forming apparatus,
Includes a case in which bets toner is accommodated,
The case is provided with engagement means for engaging the latch means provided individually according to the model of the image forming apparatus main body and holding the toner container in the mounted state as the incompatible means .
The image forming apparatus main body is provided with an urging means for urging the toner container in the anti-mounting direction when the toner container is mounted.
The latch means includes a rotation shaft having one end rotatably supported by the image forming apparatus main body, and a latch provided at the other end of the rotation shaft.
The engaging means includes a recess into which the latch is inserted by a toner container mounting operation.
The recess includes a first guide for guiding the latch in the insertion direction;
A second guide that guides the latch in the anti-insertion direction by moving the toner container in the anti-mounting direction by the biasing force of the biasing means by releasing the toner container mounting operation following the first guide. ,
A stopper that is continuous with the second guide and holds the toner container mounted by fixing a latch guided by the second guide;
A third guide that is continuous with the stopper and guides the latch by a pushing operation in a mounting direction of the toner container to release it from the stopper;
The latch guided by the third guide is moved continuously in the anti-mounting direction by the urging force of the urging means by releasing the pushing operation in the mounting direction of the toner container continuously with the third guide. And a fourth guide for removing the toner container from the image forming apparatus main body by guiding the toner container in a direction opposite to the insertion direction . The toner container according to claim 1 .
A toner container, wherein an inner surface side of a bottom wall portion of the case is formed into a flat surface over substantially the whole.

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