JPH0719095B2 - Toner Car Ridge - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a toner cartridge, and more specifically to a novel toner cartridge whose length can be easily changed.

<Prior Art> Conventionally, in an electrophotographic copying machine, in order to visualize an electrostatic latent image formed on the surface of a photosensitive drum, a developing device containing toner is mounted. Since the toner contained in the developing device is consumed each time the electrostatic latent image is made visible, the toner must be replenished every time a certain number of copying operations are performed.

In such a case, the toner replenishment work is easy,
Focusing on advantages such as good transportability of toner to be replenished and no scattering of toner at the time of toner replenishment, the toner to be replenished is stored in the toner cartridge, and the toner cartridge is stored in the developing device. The toner is allowed to drop from the toner discharge opening while being set on the upper part.

<Problems to be Solved by the Invention> As the toner cartridge having the above-described structure, a toner cartridge having a length corresponding to a copy paper size that can be copied is used.

More specifically, since the total length of the photosensitive drum is substantially equal to the maximum size of copy paper that can be copied, the total length of the developing device is also approximately equal to the maximum size of copy paper that can be copied. Since it is necessary to replenish the toner almost uniformly over the entire length, the total length of the toner cartridge also needs to be substantially equal to the maximum size of copy paper that can be copied.

By the way, among the copiers that have recently become popular, the maximum size that can be copied is AO size, and if you try to manufacture a toner cartridge for such a copier, the total length will be about 1 m. It is very inconvenient to transport, store and store.

Therefore, in the copying machine capable of copying on the above AO size copying paper, the structure of supplying toner without using the toner cartridge is adopted, and not only the toner supplying operation is difficult, but also the toner supplying is performed. There is a problem in that the toner scattering due to the above is inevitable.

<Object of Invention> The present invention has been made in view of the above problems,
It is an object of the present invention to provide a toner cartridge which can be applied to a copying machine in which the maximum size of copy paper that can be copied is large and which is easy to transport and store.

<Means for Solving the Problems> In order to achieve the above object, the toner cartridge of the present invention has a toner cartridge main body containing toner inside that can be folded in two in the longitudinal direction.
Engagement portions that engage with each other in the folded state are formed.

However, it is preferable that the engaging portion also serves as a positioning member for the developing device.

<Operation> In the case of the toner cartridge having the above-described configuration, the toner cartridge main body containing the toner is formed so as to be capable of being folded in two in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, by engaging the engaging portions with each other, the folded state is maintained,
Can be transported and stored.

Further, when the engaging portion also serves as a positioning member for the developing device, the positioning when supplying the toner to the developing device can be performed by the engaging portion.

<Examples> Hereinafter, detailed description will be given with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating examples.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the toner cartridge of the present invention, in which one side edge in the longitudinal direction of a pair of semi-cylindrical toner cartridge bodies (1) can be folded in two by a hinge portion (2). And a single seal (3) for closing both toner discharge openings formed at predetermined positions on the flat side surface is attached in a folded shape. Then, four engaging portions (4) and (5) capable of engaging with each other are formed at the ends of the flat plate-shaped side surface. Then, as shown in FIG. 3, the engaging portion (4) is formed with an undercut-shaped engaging collar portion (4a) protruding from the engaging portion (4).
It is composed of an undercut portion formed directly at a predetermined position of the toner cartridge body (1).

In the case of the toner cartridge having the above structure, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, one toner cartridge main body ((1) is formed by engaging the engaging portions of the pair of toner cartridge main bodies (1) with each other. A cylindrical toner cartridge having the same length as 1) can be formed, and transportation and storage can be easily performed.

Further, the engagement between the engaging portions is disengaged, and the hinge portion (2)
If both toner cartridge bodies (1) are aligned with each other around
It is possible to form a double-length toner cartridge,
It is suitable for a long developing device. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 4, each toner cartridge main body (1) is attached by mounting the developed toner cartridge on the toner replenishing portion of the developing device (6) and peeling off the seal (3). It is possible to reliably drop the toner accommodated in () in the developing device (6). That is, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, at predetermined positions of the developing device (6), undercut-shaped engaging portions (7) that engage with the engaging portions (4) and (5), respectively. ) (8) is formed, the engaging portions (4) and (5) are respectively engaged with the engaging portion (7).
By mounting the toner cartridge so as to engage with (8), the toner contained in both toner cartridge main bodies (1) can be dropped without the toner being scattered.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment of the toner cartridge. The difference from the above embodiment is that the long toner cartridge main body (1 ') is provided with hinge parts (2) at both longitudinal end edges. That a short toner cartridge body (1 ″) that can be folded and folded (a toner cartridge body (1 ″) that is half the length of the toner cartridge (1 ′)) is connected, and each toner cartridge body ( 1 ") has a pair of engaging portions (4), and the toner cartridge main body (1 ') has two pairs of engaging portions (5) that engage with the engaging portions (4). Only points.

Therefore, in the case of this embodiment, as shown by the chain double-dashed line in FIG. 7, the engagement portion (4) of each toner cartridge body (1 ″) is replaced by the engagement portion (4) of the toner cartridge body (1 ′). By engaging with 5), a cylindrical toner cartridge having the same length as the toner cartridge main body (1 ') can be formed, and transportation and storage can be easily performed.

Further, by disengaging the engaging portions (4) and (5) and aligning all the toner cartridges (1 ') (1 ") around the hinge portion (2), the toner cartridge main body is formed. It is possible to form a toner cartridge having a length twice the length of (1 ').

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and, for example, the toner cartridge body (1) can be formed in a rectangular tube shape, and the toner cartridge can be slid on the developing device (6). , Or forcible lowering operation, and various other design changes can be made within the scope not changing the gist of the present invention.

<Effects of the Invention> As described above, the present invention has the unique effect that the elongated toner cartridge can be easily transported and stored by folding it.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the toner cartridge of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a half-folded state, FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a main part of the half-folded state, and FIG. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a mounting state to the developing device, FIGS. 5 and 6 are vertical sectional views showing essential parts in a mounting state to the developing device, and FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing another embodiment. (1) (1 ') (1 ") ... Toner cartridge body,
(2) ... hinge part, (4) (5) ... engaging part, (6) ... developing device

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A toner cartridge, wherein a toner cartridge main body containing toner therein is foldable in a longitudinal direction at least at one location, and an engaging portion which engages with each other in a folded state is formed. cartridge. 2. The toner cartridge according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion also serves as a positioning member for the developing device.