JP2003091147A - Toner container and method of using the same - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Problem] To provide a toner container having a function of removing static electricity. SOLUTION: The toner container 11 is for storing dry toner, and the outer surface of a container body 12 provided with a continuous conductor, for example, a spiral conductor 14, is made of a plastic material (insulating material). The conductor 14 is formed so that a part of the conductor 14 is exposed on the outer surface side of the container body 12, and the container body can be grounded via the conductor exposed portion 14 a. Almost all of the toner remaining in the toner container 11 after being used in the developing process in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus is easily and quickly discharged by discharging the static electricity accumulated in the container body by performing the above-described grounding operation. can do. In this toner container, a steel wire is spirally wound around an outer peripheral surface of a plastic toner container, and then the steel wire is covered with a plastic sheet, and a part of the steel wire is exposed to the outside from the plastic sheet. It is produced by

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an antistatic technique for a toner container for accommodating dry toner, and more particularly to the structure of a toner container having a static electricity removing function and a method of using the same (method of discharging residual toner in the toner container ) Is related to. INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention is effective and widely applicable to the technical field of a powder container that is made of a chargeable material such as plastic and is required to be recycled.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses such as copiers, facsimiles, printers, etc., which use dry toner (hereinafter sometimes referred to as toner), a toner container filled with toner is generally made of plastic. After setting and using the toner, the almost empty toner container is discarded as it is and replaced with a new toner container filled with toner in advance. That is, the toner container is disposable and the discarded container is incinerated as non-burnable garbage.

However, this wastes the toner container and causes environmental pollution. Moreover, a considerable amount of toner remains in the used toner container.
The cause is that the toner container is made of a chargeable material such as plastic, so that the toner is electrostatically adsorbed on the inner surface of the container as a result of being charged with static electricity in the charging step of the electrophotographic process. Further, since the toner container is electrically charged, it is liable to be contaminated with dust or the like.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-171291 discloses an invention relating to a developing cartridge with an electrostatic charge preventing function. In the present invention, the conductive coating is formed by applying the antistatic liquid to the toner container formed on the drum toner cartridge body of the developing cartridge kid or the surface of the toner container and the cartridge body.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and a first object of the present invention is to provide a toner container having a function of removing static electricity, that is, residual toner in the container after use. To provide a toner container that can be easily and quickly discharged, so that the toner can be used more efficiently, and the used toner container can be easily and economically recycled. That is. A second object of the present invention is to provide a method of using the above toner container, that is, a method of discharging the residual toner in the toner container.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a toner container for containing a dry toner,
The outer surface of the container body provided with the continuous conductor is formed of an insulating material, a part of the conductor is exposed to the outer surface side of the container body, and the container body can be grounded through the conductor exposed portion. The toner container is characterized in that

According to a second aspect of the present invention, when the container body is set in the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the container body is grounded via the conductor exposed portion and the conductive member of the image forming apparatus. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the toner container is a toner container.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the container body has a cylindrical shape, and the conductor exposed portion is formed in an annular shape.
When the toner container is set in the image forming apparatus, the annular conductor exposed portion is rotated in a state of being in contact with the conductive member of the image forming apparatus, and the container main body is provided with the annular conductor exposed portion and The toner container according to claim 2, wherein the toner container is grounded via a conductive member of the image forming apparatus.

According to the second or third aspect of the present invention, when the toner is accommodated in the toner container and is set in the image forming apparatus and is used for development, a part of the conductor (conductor exposed portion) is used. The container body is grounded via the. As a result, static electricity generated in the container body in the charging step of the electrophotographic process is always discharged through a part of the conductor (static electricity removal function), so that static electricity generated in the container body does not accumulate in it. . Therefore, in the toner container of the present invention, unlike the conventional toner container, the toner is not electrostatically adsorbed on the inner surface of the toner container, and almost all the toner in the container can be easily discharged. In addition, the problem that dirt such as dust is likely to adhere to the inner surface of the toner container due to electrostatic attraction is eliminated.

The invention according to claim 4 is the toner container according to claim 1, wherein the conductor is a spiral conductor, a net conductor or a plane conductor. The spiral conductor or the reticulated conductor may be composed of a metal wire or a synthetic fiber mixed with a conductive material. The planar conductor may be formed of a plastic sheet containing a conductive material, or may be formed by forming a metal thin film on the container body.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of using the toner container according to the first aspect as a recycled toner bottle, wherein the toner container is filled with toner and set in an image forming apparatus, and the toner is used. A method of using the toner container, wherein static electricity accumulated in the toner container before discharging the residual toner in the toner container is discharged by grounding the exposed portion of the conductor.

[0012]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First Embodiment FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a toner container 11, and FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing a method of discharging toner remaining in this toner container. Here, for convenience, the spiral conductor 14 is shown by a solid line. The toner container 11 has a cylindrical conductor main body 12 having a toner supply port 13 provided on an upper surface thereof, and a spiral conductor 14 on an outer peripheral surface thereof.
Is provided and the spiral conductor 14 is covered with a plastic sheet (insulating material), and a part of the conductor 14 is exposed to the outside (conductor exposed portion 14a) so that it can be grounded. .

In FIG. 1, the spiral conductor 14 is exposed at the conical portion which is the upper portion of the container body, but it is not limited to this. For example, at the lower end of the outer peripheral surface of the container main body or the outer surface of the bottom portion. You may expose it. In any case,
It is preferable to expose a place where the ground can be easily taken.
The shape of the container body 12 and the toner supply port 13 is arbitrary.

In this toner container 11, a steel wire is spirally wound around the outer peripheral surface of a plastic toner container body, and then the steel wire is covered with a plastic sheet, and a part of the steel wire is removed from the plastic sheet. It is produced by exposing it to the outside.

The toner container 11 can also be manufactured as follows. Normal non-conductive plastic (PE
T, polystyrene, polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, etc.)
A cylindrical container is obtained as a container body by injection molding, extrusion blow molding or the like. On the other hand, a plastic sheet (including a plastic film) is prepared by arranging and adhering a continuous linear conductor (metal wire or conductive fiber) on one surface in a zigzag pattern. Then, the plastic sheet is wound and adhered to the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical container, the linear conductor is exposed at the conical portion of the cylindrical container, and the plastic film piece is exposed at the exposed portion (conductor exposed portion 14a). Attach easily. When the toner container 11 is used, the plastic film piece is peeled off and set in the developing device of the electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and the conductor exposed portion 14a is grounded via the conductive member of the image forming apparatus. And Then, the image forming apparatus is activated in this state.

The metal wire (steel wire, copper wire, etc.) is inexpensive and can be easily processed into a spiral shape. The conductive fiber is typically obtained by molding a plastic material in which carbon black powder is dispersed into a fibrous shape by extrusion molding. A so-called conductive polymer (for example, polyacetylene, polythiophene, polypyrrole) is used as the fiber. It can also be obtained by molding into a shape.

Instead of the toner container 11, a linear conductor may be provided on the cylindrical inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical container, and a part of this may be exposed to the outside. This toner container 11
In order to fabricate, a plastic sheet having a linear conductor adhered on one side is inserted into a blow molding die, and then the die is closed to perform extrusion blow molding.

In order to discharge the residual toner in the toner container 11, the conductor exposed portion 14a is grounded as shown in FIG.
While vibrating the toner container 11, pressurized air is supplied from the air supply pipe 40. As a result, the toner adhering to the inner surface of the container is simply and quickly discharged.

Second Embodiment FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory view showing a toner container 11a and a method of discharging toner remaining in the toner container. In the toner container 11 of FIG. 1, the conductor exposed portion 14a is formed in a “dot shape”, whereas the toner container 11a of FIG.
0 connected to the dotted conductor exposed portion, and the container body 12
It is provided concentrically with. This toner container 11a
Is suitable for supplying the toner to the developing device which constitutes the electrophotographic image forming apparatus while rotating the same, and discharging the residual toner while rotating the same. Further, the toner container 11a is set in the image forming apparatus, and the annular conductor 50 is brought into contact with the conductive member of the developing device so as to be in a grounded state.
It is possible to constantly discharge static electricity generated in the.

Third Embodiment FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the toner container 21. Here, the net-like conductor 24 is shown by a solid line for convenience. In this toner container 21, a net-shaped conductor 24 is wound around an outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical container body 22 having a toner supply port 23 on the upper portion thereof, and the net-shaped conductor 24 is covered with a plastic sheet (insulating material).
And a part of this conductor is exposed to the outside so that it can be grounded (conductor exposed portion 24a). Other configurations are the same as those in FIG.

Fourth Embodiment FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the toner container 31. In this toner container 31, a conductive sheet 34 as a planar conductor is attached to the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical container body 32 having a toner supply port 33 on the upper part, and a part of this conductor is grounded to the outside. It is exposed (conductor exposed portion 34a). More specifically, a conductive sheet 34, which is a plastic sheet having a conductive coating such as a metal thin film formed on one side by vacuum deposition or the like, is prepared by connecting a linear conductor to the conductive coating. A conductive sheet 34 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the plastic container main body 32 so that the conductive coating is located on the inner surface side, and then the linear conductor is exposed to the outside. The same as 1. Since the toner container 31 is provided with the planar conductor, the static electricity removing range is greatly expanded as compared with the toner containers 11, 11a, and 21 of FIGS.

Other examples of the method for producing the toner container provided with the sheet conductor are as follows. (1) A plastic sheet containing a conductive material such as carbon black powder and a non-conductive plastic sheet are adhesively laminated to each other, and the non-conductive plastic sheet is located on the outer peripheral surface of the container body. Stick as you would. (2) A conductive coating is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the container body made of non-conductive plastic by means such as vacuum deposition. (3) A conductive coating is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the container body made of a non-conductive plastic sheet by means such as vacuum deposition, and the non-conductive plastic sheet is attached to the outer peripheral surface. (4) A non-conductive plastic sheet having a conductive coating film formed on one surface by means of vacuum deposition or the like is prepared and processed into a container shape. (5) The outer peripheral surface of the conductive container body obtained by molding a molten resin mixed with a conductive material is covered with a non-conductive plastic sheet while leaving a part thereof, and a part of the outer peripheral surface of the container body is exposed to the outside. Expose.

[0023]

As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained. (1) The effect according to the invention of claim 1 Since the static electricity generated in the toner container can be discharged through the continuous conductor and a part of the conductor (conductor exposed portion), this discharge operation is performed in advance. By doing so, the residual toner in the toner container can be simply and quickly discharged. Therefore, this toner container can be effectively used as a recycled toner bottle, and there is no problem that foreign matter such as dust adheres to and remains in the toner container due to static electricity. Further, by providing a continuous conductor as much as possible over the entire container body, the above effect can be further enhanced.

(2) Effects of the second and third aspects of the invention When the toner container of the present invention is set in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, the toner container has a part of a conductor exposed on the outer surface side of the container body and Since it is grounded via the conductive member of the main body of the image forming apparatus, static electricity generated in the toner container during the charging process is always discharged. In this way, since static electricity generated in the toner container is removed in advance in the image forming apparatus, the toner container is removed from the image forming apparatus, and the toner container is directly vibrated or pressurized air is jetted into the container. By doing so, the residual toner can be simply and quickly discharged. In addition, there is no problem that foreign matter such as dust adheres to and remains in the toner container due to static electricity.

(3) The effect according to the invention of claim 4 Since the container body is provided with the linear conductor, the mesh conductor or the plane conductor, the static electricity generated in the container body can be discharged more efficiently. it can. In particular, the discharge function is maximized by providing the sheet conductor on the entire surface of the container body.

(4) The effect according to the invention of claim 5 Static electricity accumulated in the toner container used in the image forming apparatus is discharged by grounding a part of the conductor exposed on the outer surface side of the container main body, and thereafter, Since the residual toner in the toner container is discharged, almost all of this residual toner can be
It can be discharged quickly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a toner container according to a first embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic explanatory view showing a method of discharging toner remaining in the toner container of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a schematic explanatory diagram showing a toner container according to a second embodiment of the present invention and a method of discharging toner remaining in the toner container.

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of a toner container according to a third embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a toner container according to a fourth embodiment of the invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

11 toner container 11a toner container 12 container body 13 Toner supply port 14 spiral conductor 14a Conductor exposed part 21 toner container 22 Container body 23 Toner supply port 24 Reticulated conductor 24a exposed conductor 31 toner container 32 container body 33 Toner supply port 34 Conductive sheet 34a Conductor exposed portion 40 air supply pipe 50 annular conductor

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A toner container for accommodating dry toner, wherein an outer surface of a container body provided with a continuous conductor is formed of an insulating material, and a part of the conductor is exposed to an outer surface side of the container body. A toner container, wherein the container body is groundable via the conductor exposed portion. 2. The container main body is grounded through the conductor exposed portion and a conductive member of the image forming apparatus when set in an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. The toner container described. 3. The container main body is cylindrical, the conductor exposed portion is formed in an annular shape, and when the toner container is set in an image forming apparatus, the annular conductor exposed portion forms an image. The device according to claim 2, wherein the container body is rotated while being in contact with a conductive member of the apparatus, and the container body is grounded through the annular conductor exposed portion and the conductive member of the image forming apparatus. Toner container. 4. The toner container according to claim 1, wherein the conductor is a spiral conductor, a net conductor or a plane conductor. 5. A method of using the toner container according to claim 1 as a recycled toner bottle, wherein the toner container is filled with toner and set in an image forming apparatus to use the toner, and then the residual toner in the toner container is used. A method of using the toner container, wherein static electricity accumulated in the toner container is discharged by discharging the grounding operation of the exposed conductor portion before discharging the toner.