Support element, toner replenishing device, toner supply apparatus, and image forming apparatus

Abstract

A support element for supporting a coil spring that rotates to transport toner, and transmitting a rotational force of driving means to the coil spring. The support element includes: an end inserting member with a recess in which an end portion of the coil spring is inserted; a first support member, a second support member with a projection, a third support member, and a fourth support member, which support non-end portions of a first coil spring; and joint members for joining the end inserting member and the support members. This realizes a coil spring support element with which the flow rate of toner from a toner bottle can be increased, and the rotational force of driving means such as a motor can be efficiently transmitted to the coil spring.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view showing a support element supporting a coil spring, according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of an image forming apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a toner replenishing device provided in the image forming apparatus shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an upper view of the toner replenishing device.

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view showing a cabinet portion of the toner replenishing device.

FIG. 6( a) is a perspective view of a coil spring installed in the toner replenishing device.

FIG. 6( b) is a cross sectional view of a coil spring installed in the toner replenishing device.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a coil spring, as viewed in the axial direction.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the support element supporting the first coil spring.

FIG. 9 is a front view showing the support element, when the support element is rotated by 90 degrees in a direction of arrow P, relative to the orientation shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing the support element, when the support element is rotated by 180 degrees in a direction of arrow P, relative to the orientation shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a front view showing the support element, when the support element is rotated by 270 degrees in a direction of arrow P, relative to the orientation shown in FIG. 8.

FIG. 12 is a diagram showing how the support element supports the first coil spring upon installation in the toner replenishing device, as viewed from the front.

FIG. 13 is a diagram showing how the support element supports the first coil spring upon installation in the toner replenishing device, as viewed from the rear.

FIG. 14 is a diagram showing how the coil spring is attached to the support element shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing how the coil spring is attached to the support element shown in FIG. 10.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing how the coil spring is attached to the support element shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing a modification example of a support element for supporting a second coil spring.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing a layout of a toner bottle, a toner replenishing device, an eject pipe, and a developing unit.

FIG. 19 is an upper view of a toner replenishing device as a comparative example of the present invention.

FIG. 20( a) is a longitudinal sectional view of a conventional rotational axis member and an end portion of a coil spring, taken along a plane parallel to the rotational axis.

FIG. 20( b) is a cross sectional view of a conventional rotational axis member and an end portion of a coil spring, taken along a plane perpendicular to the rotational axis.

Claims

1. A support element for supporting a coil spring that rotates to transport toner, and transmitting a rotational force of driving means to the coil spring, said support element comprising:an end inserting member with a recess in which an end portion of the coil spring is inserted;a plurality of support members for supporting non-end portions of the coil spring; anda joint member for joining the end inserting member and the support members.

2. The support element as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support members are in contact with the coil spring so as to set an axis of the coil spring in position.

3. The support element as set forth in claim 1, wherein the coil spring has a longitudinal section that is rectangular in shape with (i) a first side parallel to an axis of the coil spring and situated on an inner side of the coil spring, (ii) a second side parallel to the axis of the coil spring and situated on an outer side of the coil spring, and (iii) third sides perpendicular to the axis of the coil spring, andwherein the support members are in contact with the first side and one of or both of the third sides.

4. The support element as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support members transmit the rotational force of the driving means to the coil spring.

5. The support element as set forth in claim 1, wherein the support members include: a first support member for supporting the coil spring at a position ¼ of a coil from the end portion of the coil spring; a second support member for supporting the coil spring at a position ½ of a coil from the end portion of the coil spring; and a third support member for supporting the coil spring at a position 3/2 coils from the end portion of the coil spring.

6. A toner replenishing device including a toner inlet through which toner stored in a toner bottle is supplied, and a toner outlet through which toner is ejected to a developing unit, the toner being transported from the toner inlet to the toner outlet by being agitated, said toner replenishing device comprising:a support element disposed below the toner inlet;driving means for driving the support element to rotate; anda first coil spring, supported by the support element, for transporting the supplied toner from the toner inlet toward the toner outlet by undergoing rotation under the rotational force transmitted by the support element from the driving means,the support element including: an end inserting member with a recess in which an end portion of the first coil spring is inserted; a plurality of support members for supporting non-end portions of the first coil spring; and a joint member for joining the end inserting member and the support members.

7. The toner replenishing device as set forth in claim 6, further comprising: a second coil spring, disposed side by side with the first coil spring so that an axis of the second coil spring faces an axis of the first coil spring; anda partition, disposed between the first coil spring and the second coil spring, for parting a first space in which the first coil spring is stored, and a second space in which the second coil spring is stored,the first coil spring and the second coil spring rotating to transport toner in opposite directions,the toner inlet being provided in an upper surface at an upstream end of the toner transport direction in the first space, and the toner outlet being provided in a bottom surface at a downstream end of the toner transport direction in the second space,the partition including (a) a first bypass portion through which the downstream end of the toner transport direction in the first space is in communication with the upstream end of the toner transport direction in the second space, and (b) a second bypass portion, provided between the first bypass portion and the toner inlet and outlet, through which the first space and the second space are in communication with each other.

8. The toner replenishing device as set forth in claim 6, comprising an anti-abrasive in a bottom surface that is in contact with the first coil spring.

9. The toner replenishing device as set forth in claim 7, comprising a rotating member, provided on the second coil spring at the downstream end of the toner transport direction, for supporting the second coil spring and transmitting the rotational force to the second coil spring, wherein the rotating member includes a sliding member that slides on a wall surface of the second space as the rotating member rotates.

10. A toner supply apparatus, comprising: a toner replenishing device including a toner inlet through which toner is supplied, and a toner outlet through which toner is ejected, the toner being transported from the toner inlet to the toner outlet by being agitated;a toner bottle, mounted on the toner replenishing device, for supplying toner to the toner replenishing device through the toner inlet;an eject pipe in communication with the toner outlet of the toner replenishing device; anda developing unit, mounted beneath the eject pipe, to which the toner is supplied from the toner replenishing device through the eject pipe,said toner replenishing device including:a support element disposed below the toner inlet;driving means for driving the support element to rotate; anda first coil spring, supported by the support element, for transporting the supplied toner from the toner inlet toward the toner outlet by undergoing rotation under the rotational force transmitted by the support element from the driving means, the support element including: an end inserting member with a recess in which an end portion of the first coil spring is inserted; a plurality of support members for supporting non-end portions of the first coil spring; and a joint member for joining the end inserting member and the support members.

11. An image forming apparatus comprising a toner supply apparatus that includes: a toner replenishing device including a toner inlet through which toner is supplied, and a toner outlet through which toner is ejected, the toner being transported from the toner inlet to the toner outlet by being agitated;a toner bottle, mounted on the toner replenishing device, for supplying toner to the toner replenishing device through the toner inlet;an eject pipe in communication with the toner outlet of the toner replenishing device; anda developing unit, mounted beneath the eject pipe, to which the toner is supplied from the toner replenishing device through the eject pipe,said toner replenishing device including:a support element disposed below the toner inlet;driving means for driving the support element to rotate; anda first coil spring, supported by the support element, for transporting the supplied toner from the toner inlet toward the toner outlet by undergoing rotation under the rotational force transmitted by the support element from the driving means,the support element including: an end inserting member with a recess in which an end portion of the first coil spring is inserted; a plurality of support members for supporting non-end portions of the first coil spring; and a joint member for joining the end inserting member and the support members.

12. An image forming apparatus as set forth in claim 11, further comprising: a plurality of image forming units, respectively corresponding to toners of different colors, each including a photoreceptor and the toner supply apparatus; andan intermediate transfer belt to which toner images respectively formed on the photoreceptors of the image forming units are transferred,wherein the image forming apparatus operates according to an intermediate transfer scheme to transfer the toner images formed on the intermediate transfer belt onto a printing medium.