Ulllted States Patent
`
`[19]
`
`[11] Patent Number:
`
`6,118,951
`
`Kato et al.
`
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`Sep. 12, 2000
`
`US006118951A
`
`[54]
`
`[75]
`
`IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TONER
`REPLENISHING DEVICE THEREFOR
`..
`.
`..
`Inventors: Shun” Kat”; Masasun“ Yahata; “'31
`Kitajima; N0b0ru Kusunose, all of
`Kanagawa Japan
`
`[73] Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tokyo, Japan
`
`[21] Appl. No‘: 09/006,006
`
`Filed:
`.Ian- 12, 1993
`[22]
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`[30]
`Jan. 13, 1997
`[JP]
`Japan .................................. .. 9—003839
`
`Feb. 7, 1997
`[JP]
`Japan
`9—024996
`Mar. 21, 1997
`[JP]
`Japan .................................... 9—068256
`[51]
`Int. Cl.7 ................................................... .. G03G 15/08
`[52] U.S. Cl.
`............................ .. 399/27; 399/30; 399/258;
`399/259
`[58] Field of Search ................................ .. 399/27, 28, 29,
`399/30, 24, 25, 258, 259, 260, 261, 262,
`263
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`
`Us‘ PATENT DOCUMENTS
`5/1983 Katoh et a1.
`.
`4,384,785
`7/1994 Fukuch] et a],
`5,329,340
`2/1996 Takagaki et al.
`5,493,382
`5,570,170 10/1996 Muranyl et al. .
`5,585,899
`12/1996 Palumbo et al.
`.
`5,604,575
`2/1997 Takagaki et al.
`.
`5,826,134 10/1998 Hino et al.
`.............................. .. 399/27
`
`,
`
`.
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`195 20 340
`
`902270183
`4_80779
`92—115273
`8—137227
`
`.
`......................... G03G 15/08
`
`5
`ii/1990
`Japan .
`3/1992
`Japan ........................... .. G03G 15/08
`4/1992
`Japan.
`5/1996
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`
`Patent Abstracts of Japan, P—480, 1986, vol. 10, No. 212.
`JP61—52 666 A.
`
`Patents Abstracts of Japan. P—1264, 1991, vol. 15, No. 410.
`-E)er3c)—)(1?)6isilds1?re Journal, vol. 20, No. 3, 1995, pp. 237 to
`240.
`Primary Exammer_RiChard Moses
`Attorney) Agent) or Fl.rm_Ob10n, Spivak, Mcclefland’
`Maier & Neustadt, P.C.
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`.
`.
`.
`.
`.
`An electrophotographlc Image formmg apparatus mcludmg
`a developing unit operable with a one- or two-ingredient
`type developer and a device for replenishing toner to the
`developing unit included in the apparatus are disclosed. A
`plurality of toner bottles are accommodated in the toner
`replenishing device, so that the toner is replenished from one
`toner bottle to the developing unit. A rotating mechanism
`causes all the toner bottles to rotate during toner replenish-
`ment. A device is provided for determining the frequency of
`use of the individual toner bottle. The toner discharged from
`each toner bottle is fed to a toner transport portion via a
`respective passageway.
`
`40 Claims, 28 Drawing Sheets
`
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`GPI EXHIBIT 1008
`
`GENERAL PLASTIC v. CANON
`
`|PF{2016-01360
`
`GPI EXHIBIT 1008
`GENERAL PLASTIC v. CANON
`IPR2016-01360
`
`1
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`

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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 12,2000
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`Sheet 1 0f 28
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`6,118,951
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`Sep. 12, 2000
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`Sep. 12, 2000
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`Sep. 12,2000
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`Sheet 21 of 28
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`Sep. 12,2000
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`Sheet 22 of 28
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`Sep. 12, 2000
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`Sheet 24 of 28
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`Sep. 12,2000
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`Sheet 25 0f 28
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`U.S. Patent
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`Sep. 12,2000
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`Sheet 26 0f 28
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`Sep. 12, 2000
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`Sheet 27 0f 28
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`
`6,118,951
`
`1
`IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS AND TONER
`REPLENISHING DEVICE THEREFOR
`
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`1. Field of the Invention
`
`The present invention relates to an electrophotographic
`image forming apparatus including a developing unit oper-
`able with a one- or two-ingredient type developer and, more
`particularly, to a device for replenishing toner to the devel-
`oping unit.
`2. Discussion of the Background
`In a copier, printer, facsimile apparatus or similar elec-
`trophotographic image forming apparatus, a latent image is
`electrostatically formed on a photoconductive element or
`image carrier and then developed by toner fed from a
`developing unit to turn out a toner image. The toner image
`is transferred from the photoconductive element to a paper
`or similar recording medium and then fixed by a fixing unit.
`Because the toner is sequentially consumed by repeated
`development, a toner replenishing device replenishes toner
`to the developing unit in order to make up for the decrease
`in the toner content of the developer. This allows a prese-
`lected toner content to be stably maintained.
`For an image forming apparatus of the type consuming a
`relatively small amount of toner, i.e., Producing a relatively
`small number of copies, the toner replenishment from the
`above replenishing device suffices. However, an image
`forming apparatus of the type producing a relatively great
`number of copies or often using papers of relatively great
`sizes consumes a great amount of toner. With this type of
`apparatus, therefore, it is necessary to replace a toner bottle
`or cartridge frequently, wasting time and labor.
`In light of the above, it has been proposed to increase the
`capacity, i.e., size of the toner bottle or cartridge. However,
`an increase in the size of the toner bottle directly translates
`into an increase in the overall size of the apparatus, and must
`therefore be restricted. Further, a large size toner bottle is
`difficult to rotate unless a considerable torque is applied
`thereto, obstructing toner replenishment. While the rotation
`of the toner bottle for driving the toner toward its toner outlet
`may be replaced with a pump or the like, such an alternative
`scheme increases the cost.
`
`On the other hand, the large size toner bottle or cartridge
`may be replaced with a plurality of toner bottles or
`cartridges, as proposed in the past. Japanese Patent Laid-
`Open Publication No. 2-277083, for example, discloses a
`toner replenishing mechanism including a toner server
`accommodating a plurality of toner cartridges. The toner
`cartridges are automatically switched a plurality of times so
`as to reduce the frequency of replacement.
`Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 4-115273
`teaches an image forming apparatus including a cartridge
`storing device storing a plurality of toner cartridges. The
`cartridge storing device automatically feeds toner from a
`particular one of the cartridges to a toner replenishing device
`while collecting an emptied toner cartridge. Specifically,
`after an emptied toner cartridge is retracted from the toner
`replenishing device, a new toner cartridge is brought to the
`replenishing device. Subsequently, the empty cartridge is
`pulled out of the cartridge storing device. With this kind of
`cartridge storing device, it is possible to continuously feed
`the toner to the developing unit without interrupting the
`operation of the apparatus.
`However, a problem with the above conventional schemes
`is that a plurality of toner cartridges are selected at random,
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`preventing the toner server body or the cartridge storing
`device from having a uniform service life. That is, each
`cartridge storing portion must be provided with a particular
`service life and managed independently of the others, result-
`ing in troublesome management. Another problem is that the
`toner of the cartridge which will be used later looses fluidity
`and cannot be easily driven toward the mouth of the car-
`tridge at
`the time of replenishment. This aggravates the
`amount of toner to be left in the cartridge. In addition, the
`toner with deteriorated fluidity deposits on the inner wall of
`the cartridge, further aggravating the amount of toner to be
`left in the cartridge.
`The toner server taught in the above Laid-Open Publica-
`tion No. 2-277083 must be located next to the developing
`unit, hindering miniaturization of the apparatus. Moreover,
`the toner server has a sophisticated structure and cannot be
`maintained with ease.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide
`a toner replenishing device including a large capacity toner
`storing section which is free to lay out, easy to operate, and
`reliable, and an image forming apparatus including the
`same.
`
`It is another object of the present invention to provide a
`toner replenishing device capable of preventing the fluidity
`of toner stored in toner bottles from being lowered, and an
`image forming apparatus including the same.
`It is another object of the present invention to provide a
`toner replenishing device not needing a broad space in the
`vicinity of a developing unit, and preventing the operation
`efficiency and maintenance efficiency from being lowered,
`an d an image forming apparatus including the same.
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The above and other objects, features and advantages of
`the present invention will become apparent from the fol-
`lowing detailed description taken with the accompanying
`drawings in which:
`FIG. 1 is a section showing a conventional toner replen-
`ishing device and a developing unit including it;
`FIG. 2 shows a first embodiment of the image forming
`apparatus in accordance with the present invention;
`FIGS. 3A-1, 3B-1, 3C-1 and 3D-1 are front views show-
`ing a toner bottle included in the first embodiment and how
`toner is discharged from the bottle;
`FIGS. 3A-2, 3B-2, 3C-2 and 3D-2 are sections of FIGS.
`3A-1 through 3D-1, respectively;
`FIGS. 4 and 5 are sections showing a bottle holding
`mechanism included in the first embodiment;
`FIG. 6 shows a mechanism included in the first embodi-
`
`ment for removing a cap from the toner bottle;
`FIG. 7 is a section showing a stop provided on the toner
`bottle;
`FIG. 8 is a section of a powder pump constituting toner
`conveying means included in the first embodiment;
`FIG. 9 is a section showing a developing unit applicable
`to the first embodiment;
`FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a toner replenish-
`ing section included in the developing unit;
`FIG. 11 is a section showing the toner replenishing section
`and toner collecting means included in the developing unit;
`FIG. 12 is a front view of a toner bank included in the first
`embodiment;
`
`30
`
`30
`
`

`
`6,118,951
`
`3
`FIG. 13 is a side elevational view of the toner bank;
`FIG. 14 is a block diagram schematically showing a
`control system included in the first embodiment;
`FIG. 15 is a sectional view showing a toner replenishing
`device representative of a second embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view showing a toner
`bottle included in the second embodiment together with
`bottle rotating means;
`FIG. 17 is a section showing the toner bottle of FIG. 16
`mounted to a sleeve for describing the operation of the
`second embodiment;
`FIG. 18 is a sectional view showing the second embodi-
`ment in a condition wherein a cap is removed from the toner
`bottle by a collet chuck to allow toner to flow out;
`FIG. 19 is a sectional view showing a passageway
`included in the second embodiment;
`FIG. 20 is a block diagram schematically showing a
`control system included in the second embodiment;
`FIGS. 21A—21C are sectional views each showing toner
`bottles included in the second embodiment in a particular
`condition;
`FIG. 22 is a sectional view showing a toner replenishing
`device representative of a third embodiment of the present
`invention;
`FIGS. 23A and 23B are sectional views each showing the
`third embodiment in a particular condition relating to an
`arm;
`
`FIG. 24 is a block diagram schematically showing a
`control system included in the third embodiment;
`FIGS. 25A—25C are sectional views each showing toner
`bottles included in the third embodiment in a particular
`condition;
`FIG. 26 is an exploded perspective view showing a toner
`replenishing device representative of a fourth embodiment
`of the present invention; and
`FIG. 27 is a perspective view showing a toner replenish-
`ing device representative of a fifth embodiment of the
`present invention.
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`
`To better understand the present invention, brief reference
`will be made to a developing unit included in a copier or
`similar electrophotographic apparatus, and a conventional
`toner replenishing device associated with the developing
`unit, shown in FIG. 1. As shown,
`the developing unit,
`generally 80, includes a developing box 82 storing a devel-
`oper 81 which is a mixture of toner 94 and carrier. A first
`agitating roller 83, a second agitating roller 84 and a
`developing roller 85 are disposed in the box 82. A pipe 86
`for toner replenishment is accommodated in the shaft of the
`agitating roller 83. The pipe 86 extends out from the box 82
`and terminates at a toner replenishing device 90.
`The toner replenishing device 90 has a holder 92 for
`holding a toner bottle or toner container 91, and a motor 93
`for rotating the toner bottle 91 and including a decelerator.
`A spiral ridge 95 is formed on the inner periphery of the
`toner bottle 91. When the motor 93 with the decelerator
`
`rotates the toner bottle 91 held by the holder 92, the toner 94
`existing in the bottle 91 is sequentially conveyed toward a
`toner outlet 96 by the spiral ridge 95 and then transferred to
`an outlet pipe 97. The toner 94 is replenished into the
`developing unit 80 via the pipes 97 and 86. In the developing
`
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`unit 80, t h e agitating rollers 83 and 84 convey the developer
`81 to the developing roller 85. The developing roller 85
`feeds the developer 81 to a photoconductive element imple-
`mented as a drum 99, thereby developing a latent image
`electrostatically formed on the drum 99.
`The problem with the toner replenishing device 90 is that
`when a great number of copies are produced or when images
`are reproduced on papers of large size, the consumption of
`the toner 94 is accelerated and results in frequent and
`time-consuming replacement of the toner bottle 91, as
`discussed earlier. Should the capacity of the toner bottle 91
`be increased in order to solve the above problem,
`the
`apparatus itself would increase in size and would need a
`great torque for driving the bottle 91. Even replacing the
`large toner bottles 91 with a plurality of toner bottle and
`interrupting the operation of the apparatus has the problems
`stated earlier.
`
`Preferred embodiments of the image forming apparatus
`and toner replenishing device in accordance with the present
`invention will be described hereinafter. The image forming
`apparatus to be described is implemented as a copier by way
`of example.
`It
`is to be noted that particular reference
`numerals are used in each embodiment, i.e., identical refer-
`ence numerals used in the embodiments do not always
`designate identical structural elements.
`1st Embodiment
`
`Referring to FIG. 2, a copier embodying the present
`invention is shown and generally designated by the refer-
`ence numeral 100. As shown, the copier 100 is generally
`made up of an ADF (Automatic Document Feeder) 110 and
`an exposing section 120, an image forming section 130 and
`a paper feeding section 140 cooperating to form images by
`a conventional electrophotographic process.
`The exposing section 120 is implemented by optics
`including a light source 121, mirrors 122, 123, 124, 126, 127
`and 128, and a lens 125. While the light source 121
`illuminates a document, not shown, laid on a glass platen 111
`by the ADF 110 or by hand, the resulting reflection from the
`document
`is propagated through the above optics to a
`photoconductive drum or image carrier 131 included in the
`image forming section 130. Arranged around the drum 131
`are a charger 132, a developing unit or developing means
`106, a registration roller pair 134, an image transfer belt unit
`133, a drum cleaning unit 136, a fixing unit 137, an outlet
`roller 138, and a paper turning section 139 for a duplex copy
`mode. The paper feeding section 140 includes a plurality of
`paper cassettes each being loaded with papers of particular
`size.
`
`In the illustrative embodiment, the exposing section 120
`is implemented by an analog exposing system. Alternatively,
`use may be made of laser optics including a laser and a
`deflector in order to write an image on the drum 131
`optically in response to an image signal, i.e., to implement
`a laser printer. Further, a document reading device may b e
`interposed between the ADF 110 and the exposing section
`120 so as to construct a digital copier or a facsimile
`apparatus.
`In operation, on the start of image forming operation, the
`charger 132 uniformly charges the surface of the drum 131.
`The exposing section 120 exposes the charged surface of the
`drum 131 imagewise so as to form a latent image represen-
`tative of a document image. The latent image is developed
`by a developer (one- or two-ingredient type) stored in the
`developing unit 106. As a result, the latent image turns out
`a toner image. The toner image is transferred from the drum
`
`31
`
`31
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`5
`131 to a paper fed from the paper feeding section 140 to the
`nip between the drum 131 and an image transfer belt 135 via
`the registration roller pair 134. The paper with the toner
`image is conveyed lo the fixing unit 137 by the belt 135
`included in the image transfer belt unit 133. The fixing unit
`137 fixes the toner image on the paper. Thereafter, the paper
`is driven out onto a tray, not shown, by the outlet roller 138.
`After the image transfer, the drum cleaning unit 136 removes
`the toner and paper dust and other impurities left on the
`drum 131. Also, cleaning means 13a included in the image
`transfer belt unit 133 cleans the belt 135 in order to remove
`the toner and impurities left thereon.
`A flexible pipe 400 provides communication between the
`developing unit 106 and a toner bark 300 arranged on the
`outer periphery of the copier 100 and storing toner. The toner
`is replenished from the toner bank 300 to the developing unit
`106 via the pipe 400. The toner bank 300 is a hollow
`cylindrical container in which a plurality of (three in the
`embodiment) toner bottles 20 having an identical configu-
`ration are arranged sideways one above the other. Each toner
`bottle 20 has a mouth or toner outlet 23 formed in one end
`
`thereof and is positioned with the mouth 23 facing rearward,
`as viewed in FIG. 2.
`The mouth 23 of each bottle 20 is smaller in diameter than
`
`the body of the bottle 20. As shown in FIGS. 3A-1 and 3A-2,
`the end of each bottle 20 where the mouth 23 is present has
`its inner periphery partly raised to the edge of the mouth 23,
`forming a raised portion 85 for lilting the toner. In addition,
`the above end of the bottle 20 is partly raised along the edge
`of the mouth 23, forming an inclined raised portion 86 for
`discharging the toner. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, a cap 7a
`is fitted in the mouth 23 and formed with a lug 7b at its
`center.
`
`Referring again to FIG. 2, the tone, bank 300 includes
`three holder portions 13A, 13B and 13C respectively accom-
`modating the three toner bottles 20. Because the holder
`portions 13A-13C are identical
`in configuration,
`let
`the
`following description concentrate on the: holder portion 13A
`by way of example.
`As shown in FIG. 4, the holder portion 13A has an outer
`holder 14, a chuck 15, a slider 16, a spring 17, a rotatable
`inner holder 18, and a moving device 19A (see FIG. 6). The
`outer holder 14 constitutes the outside wall of the holder
`
`portion 13A. The inner holder 18 is received in the outer
`holder 14 and formed with gear teeth 18b on its outer
`circumferential surface. The inner holder 18 is so configured
`as to receive a part of the bottle 20 adjoining the end where
`the mouth 23 is present. As shown in FIG. 5, a drive gear 21
`is positioned in the holder portion 13A and held in mesh with
`the gear teeth 18b for driving the inner holder 18. A motor
`24A causes the drive gear 21 to rotate under the control of
`control means 1 which will be described.
`
`A plurality of projections and recesses, not shown, are
`formed on the outer circumferential surface of the bottle 20,
`so that the bottle 20 can rotate in synchronism with the inner
`holder 18. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a seal 18a is fitted on
`the inner holder 18 in order to prevent toner 5 from flying
`about via the clearance between the bottle 20 and the seat
`
`portion of the inner holder 18.
`As shown in FIGS. 3A-1, 3B-1, 3C-1 and 3D-1, a lug 31
`is studded on the outer circumferential surface of the bottle
`
`20 in the vicinity of the other end of the bottle 20 where the
`mouth 23 is absent. While the bottle 20 is in rotation, the lug
`31 on the bottle 20 is sensed by a sensor 32A mounted on the
`holder portion 13A. The lug 31 and sensor 32A constitute
`means for detecting the frequency of use. The output of the
`senor 32A is sent to the control means 1.
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`How the toner 5 is discharged from the bottle 20 will be
`described with reference to FIGS. 3A-1, 3A-2, 3B-1, 3B-2,
`3C1, 3C-2, 3D-1 and 3D-2. FIGS. 3A-1, 3B-1, 3C-1 and
`3D-1 and FIGS. 3A-2, 3B-2, 3C-2 and 3D-2 are respectively
`front views and side elevations (as seen from the right)
`demonstrating how the toner 5 is guided by the raised
`portions 85 and 86. Consecutive conditions shown in FIGS.
`3A-1 through 3D-1 are sequentially shifted by 90 degrees
`with respect to the rotation of the bottle 20. An arrow K
`indicates the direction of rotation of the bottle 20.
`
`the largest
`First, as shown in FIGS. 3A-1 and 3A-2,
`diameter portion of the shoulder of the bottle 20 is posi-
`tioned at the bottom, so that the toner 5 is guided by a guide
`groove 27 to the bottom of the inner periphery of the above
`portion of the bottle 20. As shown in FIGS. 3B-1 and 3B-2,
`when the bottle 20 is rotated by 90 degrees in the direction
`K, the border between the largest diameter portion and the
`raised portion 85 is brought to the bottom. As a result, the
`toner 5 guided by the guide groove 27 partly gets on the
`raised portion 85. While the bottle 20 is rotated by another
`90 degrees in the direction K to the position shown in FIGS.
`3C-1 and 3C-2, the raised portion 85 lifts the toner 5 to the
`edge of the toner outlet 23 like a spoon. About the time when
`the bottle 20 reaches the position shown in FIGS. 3D-1 and
`3D-2 after another 90 degrees rotation,
`the toner on the
`raised portion 85 is partly transferred to the inclined raised
`portion 86 and then discharged via the mouth 23 due to the
`inclination of the raised portion 86.
`As FIGS. 3C-1 and 3C-2 indicate, the raised portion 86
`also resembles a spoon. With this configuration of the
`portion of the bottle 20 adjoining the mouth 2.3, it is possible
`to prevent the toner 5 from dropping from the outlet 23 in a
`mass, i.e., to allow the toner to be discharged little by little
`without flying about in a hopper formed in the lower portion
`of the toner bank 300. Also, it is possible to use substantially
`the entire toner 5 existing in the bottle 20. In addition, when
`the bottle 20 is rotated, a so-to-speak spoonful of toner is
`lifted to the mouth 23 with an excessive part of the toner
`removed. This allows the toner 5 to be discharged via the
`mouth 23 in a constant amount.
`
`As shown in FIG. 4, a mechanism for fitting and removing
`the cap 7a from the mouth 23 is arranged at the rear in the
`direction of insertion of the bottle 20. The mechanism
`
`mainly consists of the chuck 15, slider 16, spring 17, and
`moving device 19A mentioned earlier. The slider 16 is
`slidably received in the holder 14 and made up of a hollow
`cylindrical body and a pressing portion 16a having an inside
`diameter smaller than the body and an outside diameter
`larger than the body. The spring 17 surrounds the body of the
`slider 16 and constantly biases it to the left, as viewed in
`FIG. 4. When the bottle 20 with the cap 7a is inserted into
`the holder 18, the pressing portion 16a presses the cap 7a
`toward the mouth 23.
`
`The chuck 15 is slidably received in the body of the slider
`16. The chuck 15 is made up of a cylindrical body whose
`outside diameter is slightly smaller than the inside diameter
`of the slider 16, a rack 15a formed integrally with the end
`of the body remote from the bottle 20, and a flexible nip
`portion 15b formed integrally with the end of the body close
`to the bottle 20. The nip portion 153 protrudes toward the
`cap 7a over the inside diameter of the pressing portion 16a
`and flared radially outward, as illustrated. The rack 15a is
`connected to the moving device 19A which will b e
`described. The chuck 15 is movable in the direction indi-
`
`cated by an arrow A by being driven by the moving device
`19A. A lug 33 is studded on the rack 15a while a sensor 34A
`is mounted on the holder portion 13A. When the chuck 15
`
`32
`
`32
`
`

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`is moved in the direction Aby the moving device 19A until
`the cap 7a has been removed from the mouth 23, the lug 33
`is sensed by the sensor 34A. The lug 33 and sensor 34A
`constitute counting means. After the sensor 34A has sensed
`the lug 33, it outputs a signal when the lug 33 is again
`brought out of its sensing range, i.e., when the chuck 15 is
`moved in the direction opposite to the direction A. The
`output of the sensor 34A is sent to the control means 1.
`As shown in FIG. 6,
`the moving device 19A mainly
`consists of a motor 19Aa, a worm 19Ab mounted on the
`output shaft of the motor 19Aa, a worm wheel (or bevel
`gear) 19Ac held in mesh with the worm 19Ab, and a pinion
`gear 19Aa' coaxial with the worm wheel 19A and held in
`mesh with the rack 15a. When the motor 19Aa is driven
`
`clockwise or counterclockwise by the control means 1, it
`moves the chuck 15 in the right-and-left direction so as to fit
`or remove the cap 7a in or from the mouth 23.
`As shown in FIG. 7, a stop 22a is positioned outside of the
`holder 14, i.e., at the side of the holder portion 13A adjoining
`the inside of the copier 100. The stop 22a stops the bottle 20
`tending to move backward due to the bias of the spring 17
`when the cap 7a is inserted into the mouth 23. A lug 20a is
`formed on the outer circumferential surface of the bottle 20.
`
`The stop 22a is supported by a stepped screw 22b and a
`spring 22c affixed to the holder 14. The stop 22a has a hook
`at its end which is engageable with the lug 20a. The force of
`the spring 22c is selected to be greater than the force of the
`spring 17. This prevents, when the cap 7a plugs the mouth
`23, the stop 22a from rising to a position indicated by a
`dash-and-dots line in FIG. 7. Because the bottle 20 is
`
`retained by the stop 22a during fitting of the cap 7a, the cap
`7a can be surely fitted in the mouth 23. The bottle 20 can be
`replaced only if it is pulled out more strongly or if it is
`retracted to the dash-and-dots line position by finger or by;
`a lever or the like which may be added to the above
`arrangement.
`As stated above, three toner bottles 20 are respectively
`received in three holder portions 13A—13C formed in the
`toner bank 300. The holder portions 13A—13C each is
`provided with the respective cap removing mechanism and
`bottle rotating mechanism. Therefore, each bottle 20 can be
`plugged and unplugged independently of the others. This
`allows a system in which the toner 5 is replenished from the
`plurality of bottles 20 and a system in which the bottles 20
`are sequentially used one by one up to the toner end
`condition to be selectively used.
`Referring again to FIG. 2, the toner 5 discharged from any
`one of the bottles 20 drops to a toner transport path formed
`at the bottom of the toner bank 300. If the toner 5 is fed from
`the bottle 20 in an excessive amount, there will occur toner
`blocking due to the pressure of the toner 5, deteriorating
`conveyance. In light of this, a toner height sensor 340
`responsive to the height of the toner 5 is positioned in the
`lower portion of the Toner bank 300. The operation for
`plugging and unplugging the bottle 20 is controlled on the
`basis of the output of the above sensor 340, so that the toner
`5 is prevented from being replenished to a height above a
`preselected height. The output of the sensor 340 is also sent
`to the control means 1.
`
`A powder pump unit 330 is disposed in the above toner
`transport path. As shown in FIG. 8, the powder pump unit
`330 is implemented as a so-called Morno pump mainly
`consisting of a rotor 331, a stator 332, and a holder 333. The
`rotor 331 is connected to a motor or similar drive source, not
`shown, by a drive shaft or a horizontal screw conveyor 323.
`Specifically, the powder pump unit 330 has the rotor 331
`
`8
`connected to the drive source by the horizontal screw
`conveyor 323, the stationary stator 332 surrounding the rotor
`331, and the holder 333 holding the stator 332. The toner 5
`existing in the lower portion of the toner bank 300 is
`introduced into the pump 330 from the screw 323 side and
`then conveyed by the rotor 331 toward a passageway 334.
`A gap of about 1 mm exists between the side of the stator
`332 and the side of the holder 3333 facing it and is
`communicated to the passageway 334. An air pump, not
`shown, has its outlet communicated to the passageway 334
`via a piping 342 and an air inlet port 335 formed in the
`holder 333, so that air is blown into the passageway 33